Sunraysia Buyer’s Sunraysia Buyer’s GroupGroupPresented byPresented by

Paul GeeringPaul Geeringthe more I know, the more I realisethe more I know, the more I realise

how little I knowhow little I know

About meAbout meMaster Plumber and Gasfitter (21 yrs in the industry)Master Plumber and Gasfitter (21 yrs in the industry)Hold a restricted builders licenseHold a restricted builders licenseHold a restricted electrical licenseHold a restricted electrical licenseCert IV in Small Business ManagementCert IV in Small Business ManagementDiploma in Teaching ( VET)Diploma in Teaching ( VET)Gaining a Graduate Diploma in Renewable EnergyGaining a Graduate Diploma in Renewable EnergyGaining my accreditation as a BCSE installer and supervisor Gaining my accreditation as a BCSE installer and supervisor –– solar, solar, wind and hydrowind and hydroI have worked as a I have worked as a 1.1. Ran my own maintenance plumbing business in the southern area foRan my own maintenance plumbing business in the southern area for r

nine years nine years 2.2. Maintenance coordinator for a Nursing Home in WoodcroftMaintenance coordinator for a Nursing Home in Woodcroft3.3. Real estate sales consultant for Real Estate Agent in O’HalloranReal estate sales consultant for Real Estate Agent in O’Halloran Hill Hill

–– Jenman SystemJenman System4.4. Debt Reduction Specialist for a company in WoodcroftDebt Reduction Specialist for a company in Woodcroft5.5. Australian Customs Service (enforcement officer at Adelaide Australian Customs Service (enforcement officer at Adelaide

International Airport and a Boarding/ Enforcement Officer at PorInternational Airport and a Boarding/ Enforcement Officer at Port t Lincoln Seaport)Lincoln Seaport)

I’m currently employed at Sunraysia Institute of TAFE in two rolI’m currently employed at Sunraysia Institute of TAFE in two roleses1.1. Teach plumbing apprenticesTeach plumbing apprentices2.2. Project Development Officer for Sustainability in building and Project Development Officer for Sustainability in building and

constructionconstruction

What is a buyers’ group?What is a buyers’ group?

A buying group is a collection of A buying group is a collection of buyers that work together and focus buyers that work together and focus their demand into a single ‘purchase' their demand into a single ‘purchase' and negotiate with a supplier for and negotiate with a supplier for better pricesbetter prices

Buying groups can be effective in areas Buying groups can be effective in areas where transportation costs are high and where transportation costs are high and services inadequate. services inadequate.

Who forms buyers’ groupsWho forms buyers’ groups

They can be formed byThey can be formed by

local councils local councils businesses businesses community memberscommunity members

Cost to set up a buyers’ Cost to set up a buyers’ groupgroup

Buying groups can be simple to implement Buying groups can be simple to implement and require no upand require no up--front financial front financial commitment, but they do needcommitment, but they do need

a local 'champion' to gain the interest and a local 'champion' to gain the interest and commitment of other memberscommitment of other membersa sufficient level of guaranteed customer a sufficient level of guaranteed customer spending to attract supplier interestspending to attract supplier interestan understanding of the product or service an understanding of the product or service is requiredis required

QuotesQuotesTom Chalko Tom Chalko -- Renew Magazine Oct Renew Magazine Oct –– Dec 2007Dec 2007

“Our so“Our so--called civilisation is based on called civilisation is based on waste. Most people assume that all waste. Most people assume that all resources are unlimited and the only limit resources are unlimited and the only limit is what they can afford.”is what they can afford.”

“…. Our leaders consider one solution: “…. Our leaders consider one solution: build more power stations. It doesn't build more power stations. It doesn't even cross their minds that the more even cross their minds that the more energy people are given the more they energy people are given the more they will waste”will waste”

Tom runs his whole home on 0.8k Wh of Tom runs his whole home on 0.8k Wh of electricity per day electricity per day -- www.mtbest.netwww.mtbest.net

Beginnings Beginnings –– How the How the buyers’ group formedbuyers’ group formed

I started planning our strawbale homeI started planning our strawbale home

Solar Hot Water (gas boosted)Solar Hot Water (gas boosted)Solar Power (PV)Solar Power (PV)Wind PowerWind PowerRainwaterRainwaterRecycled waste water Recycled waste water Double and triple glazed windowsDouble and triple glazed windowsEuropean style Insulation (R6 European style Insulation (R6 -- R10)R10)

I’m just an average Joe wanting to save money on my weekly and qI’m just an average Joe wanting to save money on my weekly and quarterly uarterly expenditureexpenditure

Lots of sustainable products to choose fromLots of sustainable products to choose fromNo sustainable suppliers in Mildura No sustainable suppliers in Mildura It is going to be very expensive to get products and installers It is going to be very expensive to get products and installers from either from either Melbourne or Adelaide to come to MilduraMelbourne or Adelaide to come to Mildura

Beginnings Beginnings –– How the buyers’ How the buyers’ group formed group formed

Solar Hot Water (gas boosted) $6,000 (18.75 Solar Hot Water (gas boosted) $6,000 (18.75 yrs)yrs)Solar Power (PV) $9,000Solar Power (PV) $9,000Wind Power $15,000 (27.27yrs)Wind Power $15,000 (27.27yrs)Rainwater $7,000Rainwater $7,000Recycled waste water $15,000 (27.5 yrs)Recycled waste water $15,000 (27.5 yrs)Double and triple glazed windows $33,000Double and triple glazed windows $33,000European style Insulation (R6 European style Insulation (R6 -- R10) $3,000R10) $3,000

Beginnings Beginnings –– How the How the buyers’ group formedbuyers’ group formed

TAFE hosted a Sun Festival in October 2007TAFE hosted a Sun Festival in October 2007I met a number of like minded people who I met a number of like minded people who wanted sustainable building productswanted sustainable building productsA number of these people indicated they A number of these people indicated they wanted to buy a solar power systemwanted to buy a solar power systemWe organised a meeting at a local restaurant We organised a meeting at a local restaurant (Stefano di Pieri) and about 15 (Stefano di Pieri) and about 15 -- 20 people 20 people attended.attended.

Format of the Buyers’ GroupFormat of the Buyers’ Group

PV installationsPV installationsI had done most of the technical research I had done most of the technical research into the different types of systems so I into the different types of systems so I gave a spiel on the how the system gave a spiel on the how the system workedworkedWe organised a list of when people We organised a list of when people wanted to buywanted to buyNow, the next 3, 6 or 12 monthsNow, the next 3, 6 or 12 months

ProcessProcess

We approached four companies to quote on We approached four companies to quote on the supply and install twelve 1Kw systems the supply and install twelve 1Kw systems All companies were invited to Mildura to do a All companies were invited to Mildura to do a presentation to the buyer’s group presentation to the buyer’s group –– one took up one took up this offerthis offerOn the presentation night 48 people attended On the presentation night 48 people attended mainly from word of mouth and a small mainly from word of mouth and a small advertisement in the local paperadvertisement in the local paper

Installations to dateInstallations to date

All companies quoted on a 1Kw, 2Kw and 3Kw systemAll companies quoted on a 1Kw, 2Kw and 3Kw system1 Kw system 1 Kw system -- $3900 to $6000 $3900 to $6000 2 Kw system 2 Kw system -- $12,000 to $17,000 $12,000 to $17,000 The buyers group selected a company from Adelaide The buyers group selected a company from Adelaide (ZEN) to supply and install the systems due to their (ZEN) to supply and install the systems due to their price and add on extrasprice and add on extras$4300 installed after rebate with a wireless LCD $4300 installed after rebate with a wireless LCD portable monitor portable monitor Due to the interest in the system Due to the interest in the system –– mainly from word of mainly from word of mouth mouth –– ZEN extended this discounted price for ZEN extended this discounted price for another 12 householdsanother 12 householdsAs of yesterday we have had 20 systems installed As of yesterday we have had 20 systems installed ––two 1.75Kw systems and eighteen 1 Kw systemstwo 1.75Kw systems and eighteen 1 Kw systems

DevelopmentsDevelopments

Currently negotiating with a new supplier for a 1Kw Currently negotiating with a new supplier for a 1Kw system installed for $895 (after the $8000 govt. rebate)system installed for $895 (after the $8000 govt. rebate)Have to have 50 people buy at the same time in the Have to have 50 people buy at the same time in the same areasame areaPay for the system yourself and claim the rebate back Pay for the system yourself and claim the rebate back from the governmentfrom the governmentI have registered 100 homes in MilduraI have registered 100 homes in MilduraNegotiating with a bank to provide bridging finance of Negotiating with a bank to provide bridging finance of $800000 for the 100 people$800000 for the 100 peopleInvestigating carbon offsets for businesses that Investigating carbon offsets for businesses that sponsor a person for the installation of a PV systemsponsor a person for the installation of a PV system

DevelopmentsDevelopments

Currently there are 10+ neighbourhoods Currently there are 10+ neighbourhoods awaiting the outcome with the bankawaiting the outcome with the bank

Strathalbyn (SA) 30+ peopleStrathalbyn (SA) 30+ peopleHepburn 100+ peopleHepburn 100+ peopleCastlemaine 140+ peopleCastlemaine 140+ peopleRiddles Creek 101 people (10% of the town)Riddles Creek 101 people (10% of the town)KewKewSurry HillsSurry HillsUpper BarwonUpper Barwon

DevelopmentsDevelopments

I have found a Retro fit Solar Hot water I have found a Retro fit Solar Hot water System ( evacuated tube type. 40 System ( evacuated tube type. 40 –– 60% more 60% more efficient than flat solar collector technology)efficient than flat solar collector technology)$1600 instead of $3500 (plus installation costs $1600 instead of $3500 (plus installation costs approx $800)approx $800)1.1. 4 tonnes of green house gases saved by installing 4 tonnes of green house gases saved by installing

a Solar HWSa Solar HWS2.2. 2 Tonnes of green house gases saved by installing 2 Tonnes of green house gases saved by installing

a 1Kw PV systema 1Kw PV system

DevelopmentsDevelopments

So far in Mildura we have had 15 of these So far in Mildura we have had 15 of these systems installed ( 2 with gas boost)systems installed ( 2 with gas boost)I’m passing information on to a buyers group in I’m passing information on to a buyers group in Ballarat who are looking at 300 systems to be Ballarat who are looking at 300 systems to be installedinstalledBlack water recycling systems (Class A Black water recycling systems (Class A recycled water)recycled water)$7000 instead of $13000$7000 instead of $13000Concertina Foil Batts Concertina Foil Batts –– 40% off of retail 40% off of retail (average house costing of $500 to retrofit)(average house costing of $500 to retrofit)

Buyers’ Group expandingBuyers’ Group expanding

I was interviewed by the local ABC radio breakfast show about ouI was interviewed by the local ABC radio breakfast show about our r buyers’ group and other TAFE sustainable projectsbuyers’ group and other TAFE sustainable projectsSpoken on Adelaide 891 ABC radio about the buyers groupSpoken on Adelaide 891 ABC radio about the buyers group60 phone calls from all over SA from that 4 minute chat60 phone calls from all over SA from that 4 minute chatadded about 70 people to the email list added about 70 people to the email list People in Qld, NSW and TAS wanting to be apart of the group aftePeople in Qld, NSW and TAS wanting to be apart of the group after r seeing the interview on ABC web pageseeing the interview on ABC web pagehttp://www.abc.net.au/milduraswanhill/stories/s2163898.htmhttp://www.abc.net.au/milduraswanhill/stories/s2163898.htmhttp://www.abc.net.au/milduraswanhill/stories/s2160319.htmhttp://www.abc.net.au/milduraswanhill/stories/s2160319.htmCurrently about 140 people in the group and I want to expand theCurrently about 140 people in the group and I want to expand the buyers’ buyers’ group to 1000 by the end of the yeargroup to 1000 by the end of the yearRun by the people of the buyers’ group and what people want to bRun by the people of the buyers’ group and what people want to buy via uy via emailsemailsI want to keep it simple (KISS theory) and free to anyone who woI want to keep it simple (KISS theory) and free to anyone who would like uld like to jointo join

FeedbackFeedback

Everyone loves the idea of the buyers’ group of Everyone loves the idea of the buyers’ group of buying in bulk and saving $$$$ (it’s not a new buying in bulk and saving $$$$ (it’s not a new idea)idea)Everyone loves the simplicity of the email Everyone loves the simplicity of the email systemsystemManaging a national group is a new challenge Managing a national group is a new challenge that needs to be over comethat needs to be over comeI’m addressing issues with IT specialists and I’m addressing issues with IT specialists and looking at setting up a web link where people looking at setting up a web link where people can find out more information and join with out can find out more information and join with out having to chat with me!!!having to chat with me!!!

Thankyou for listeningThankyou for listening

Group email Group email mildurabuyersgroup@yahoo.com.aumildurabuyersgroup@yahoo.com.auMy contact detailsMy contact detailspaulg@onehundredtimes.com.aupaulg@onehundredtimes.com.au0432321638043232163803 5022360303 50223603