Latest news with #OpenEnergy
Powys County Times
7 days ago
- General
- Powys County Times
Newtown residents embrace circular economy at community events
The young boy's teddy was repaired at the event (Image: Benjamin Wolf) This article is brought to you by our exclusive subscriber partnership with our sister title USA Today, and has been written by our American colleagues. It does not necessarily reflect the view of The Herald. Newtown residents are embracing the circular economy at community events. The latest success was Newtown's Summer ShareFest at Hope Church. The event, organised by the Open Energy project, featured a 'SwapShop' and repair café. Attendees exchanged books, clothes, and toys, all free of charge, funded by the National Lottery Community Fund. The event, part of the Open Energy project by Open Newtown, aims to reduce waste, lower carbon emissions, and strengthen the circular economy by promoting the reuse and repair of everyday items. A spokesperson said: "It has been a challenge to spread the word about these events and to help people understand what they are about. "But the response from those who attend is always so positive. "More and more people are realising that we can work together as a community to reduce waste, share resources and save money." The event also featured a repair café where residents could extend the life of their possessions. At the event, a young boy's soft toy, a gift from his late father, was repaired. The initiative also takes repair cafés 'on the road' to different parts of the community. The event at Hope Church included craft sessions, gardening activities, and free food and refreshments. A spokesperson said: "For many participants, our events are their first experience attending a clothes swap or repair café. "We're hoping that repair and reuse becomes the norm and there is certainly a growing appetite for it." To find out about future events, you can follow them on Facebook or email Openergy@
Yahoo
17-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
New hipages energy service to save Aussies $250 a year by automatically switching plans
Finder's utilities expert Mariam Gabaji said better energy offers can be found on the first page of your bill, but a new system is set to do all the hard work for you. (Source: Finder/Supplied/Getty) There's a new system to help keep your electricity bill as low as possible and it's set to save the average Australian $250 a year. Hipages energy will automatically roll you onto a new plan if a cheaper one becomes available. Some Aussies might not have noticed the small note on their energy bills that now legally has to advise you every 90 days if there's a cheaper plan available. Finder utilities expert Mariam Gabaji told Yahoo Finance that "many people miss it" even though it's on the first page of your invoice. Despite facing another energy bill price rise of up to $300, Australians simply can't be bothered to make the change, paying a collectively $1.1 billion in electricity loyalty tax. The hipages energy system is set to change that. RELATED How does it work? The hipages energy setup uses Australia's Open Energy initiative to do all the heavy lifting for you. The Open Energy initiative is managed by the consumer watchdog and allows you to access and share your energy data. The data is collected by your electricity smart meter and it's meant to give you more "choice, control, and convenience" when managing your energy usage. It also helps you find the best retail price deals as this data provides a much more accurate snapshot of your usage. Do you have a story? Email 'We know that all Australians have been hit hard with skyrocketing prices, and the cost of energy is causing particular strain," hipages Group CEO Roby Sharon-Zipser told Yahoo Finance. The system harnesses this platform to chuck you onto a similar but cheaper deal if and when it becomes available. "While the extension of the Federal Government's Energy Bill Relief Fund will help, it's unfortunately a temporary solution," Sharon-Zipser added. 'For homeowners and renters, hipages energy ensures residents always have a competitive electricity deal by automatically switching their plan.' The company estimated this first-of-its-kind initiative will shave off 20 per cent off your energy bill within the first year. They're so confident in that belief, that if your bill is $5,000 or less and you don't get that much in savings, you'll get a $1,000 gift card. 'We hope that by expanding our offerings available to homeowners and business owners, we can make building and maintaining homes and businesses easier," Sharon-Zipser said.
