Solar panels, positioned on two of the buildings, power all nine buildings on the site.
Story and photos by Linda Moon
Brahma Kumaris are embracing green living and solar energy at their North Leura Retreat Centre in the Blue Mountains. We can all learn from their journey.
Key Points:
- More of us are turning to renewable energy and sustainable living, however, about 33 per cent of carbon emissions still come from burning fossil fuels to produce energy.
- In January, the Brahma Kumaris Retreat Centre in Leura celebrated their new solar system. They explain how it works.
In Indian tradition, three coconuts are smashed symbolically on the ground. In a gentler, more official gesture, Sarah Redshaw, Greens Councillor for Blue Mountains City Council, cuts a ribbon to the applause of those present. We are asked to devote 30 seconds of silence to send good wishes to the green initiative.
The new solar system at Brahma Kumaris is worth the fanfare. Energy costs are booming and the environment issue of carbon emissions remains critical.
Greens Councillor, Sarah Redshaw (middle) with Jessica Yuille, Retreat Centre Coordinator, and Charlie Hogg, the National Co-ordinator.
Community power
Speaking at the onsite celebratory event at Leura, Charlie Hogg, the National Coordinator, said Brahma Kumaris holds a philosophy of treading lightly on the planet.
It is a not-for-profit organisation and the switch to renewable energy was fully funded by donations.
The Leura Brahma Kumaris Retreat centre is one of four in Australia. Worldwide Brahma Kumaris has over 4,500 centres across 110 countries. It’s also the largest female-led spiritual organisation in the world. Their goal is spiritual education and helping people take responsibility for their own emotional happiness through meditation, explained Retreat Centre Coordinator, Jessica Yuille.
As they host many large meditation retreats, keeping the power on is vital.
Solar panels also can perform well in the east and west.
Panels in the East and West
The new 75 kW solar and 50kW battery storage system services nine buildings. According to Greg Wellham (who looks after the solar project, grounds and maintenance), it’s currently producing more energy than they use.
The solar panels (182 in total) are located on two buildings. Due to limitations of the site, they were unable to position panels in the north. The Hall, for example, has panels covering the east and west roof angles.
Greg said the East / West configuration has meant they only lose six per cent of energy production compared to having panels in the north. The east-facing panels start generating as soon as the sun is up. The western ones capture the late afternoon sun.
How to power at night
As the Centre staff rise around 2 or 3 AM, they start drawing on power before the sun comes up. Battery storage has been crucial.
The 50kW battery storage system is comprised of 10 x 5kW lithium batteries, Greg said. These and the switchboard are located in a storage room. Greg uses an App on his phone to monitor power use and production.
Greg Wellham in the storage room that houses the hefty 50kW battery system (behind him).
Power in the mist
What about those trademark misty mountain days?
Even then, the system still creates 7kW of power, Greg said. As a comparison, a hot summer day typically produces 35kW.
When it’s raining, the system can still power up about 3kW, Greg said.
In winter, the underfloor heating is the main suck on the power. Fortunately, now it runs off the new solar electricity.
The cottage is the focus of meditation retreats
More green practices
Jessica described several other green initiatives at the Centre. These include recycling everything they can, composting and converting all the lighting to LED.
They’ve also changed gas appliances, including air-conditioning, to electric ones. The hot water is powered by solar and heat pumps. This means all appliances are now electrified and running off the new solar system.
Caring for the land means the endangered Giant Dragonfly, Blue Mountains Skink and Mountain Pygmy Possum have been spotted at the site.
Guardians of the universe
Outside there’s also a lot going on.
The property is located on 50 hectares of mostly natural bushland in Mount Hay Road. It includes a hanging swamp, natural spring and one kilometre of Govetts Creek.
Initiatives to protect the land include removing noxious weeds and planting natives, such as ferns.
A Landcare group supported by Blue Mountains City Council also tends the land monthly. (They’re always looking for volunteers, by the way!)
Visitors can attend regular meditative gardening retreats at the 90-year-old ironstone Cottage, and contribute to weeding and land care while they meditate.
According to principal gardener, Chris McDonald, the site has a huge population of Antechinus (a native mouse).
Other endangered residents include the Giant Dragonfly and Blue Mountains Water Skink. A Mountain Pygmy Possum (which is a critically endangered species) was recently discovered in a sink in the garden, Chris said.
Principal gardener (Chris McDonald) and Jessica Yuille (Retreat Centre Coordinator) with visitors: Venerable Korvida and Venerable Mudhita.
A kind, sustainable food garden
Living with so much native wildlife around creates challenges for growing food.
Two years ago, Chris and his helper, Russ, established a permaculture food garden. Choosing a sunny, north-facing site near the kitchen has made it accessible to those preparing food. It’s also closer for watering and chores. “You’ve got to think about these practicalities,” Chris said.
The kitchen garden supplies food to those who live onsite. Their January crops include turmeric, corn, rocket, tomatoes, pumpkin, greens, beans, herbs and berries. There’s also 11 varieties of fruit trees and comfrey, which is used for composting.
Chris and Russ. Building the enclosure took four months worth of weekends, but has been worth it.
No chemicals or pesticides are used in the garden. To minimise pest attacks the plants are protected within a huge covered structure and the beds are raised.
Flowers, like allysum, are grown to attract beneficial insects. Variety supports the garden, Chris said.
When they’re gardening, they sometimes do silent moving meditations, Russ reveals. “Nature’s really sensitive to vibration.”
Giant rhubarb in the kitchen garden: a healthy product of positive vibrations and permaculture principles.
Take Action:
- Come to the upcoming Planetary Health Day at the Katoomba Planetary Health Precinct & Parklands.
- Get free advice from local solar company representatives on the day.
- Recycle, avoid waste and grow your own food.
Share this article:
This story has been produced as part of a Bioregional Collaboration for Planetary Health and is supported by the Disaster Risk Reduction Fund (DRRF). The DRRF is jointly funded by the Australian and New South Wales governments.
More from around the region
Civil engineer Mark Liebman has worked closely with the Planetary Health Centre to explore ways we can manage water to reduce the impact of severe weather events, from flood to bushfire. At Planetary Health Day on Saturday 1 March he`ll be giving a presentation and tour of the Centre`s Bushfire Sprinkler Demonstration Wall and the prototype of an underground water tank that could be built at the end of flame zone streets around the perimeter of the City to reduce both stormwater and fire damage. Our video of the Bushfire Sprinkler system has already been helping survivors of the Palisades fire in the US prepare for future fire events. In this week`s story for Blackheath Area Local News you can also read about the green roof Mark built on his garden shed to reduce the impact of extreme weather events at his home in Blackheath. You can see all the videos and reserve a place for Mark`s talk at Planetary Health Day here (link in profile):
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/future-proofing-with-community-water-tanks-and-bushfire-sprinkler-systems-tickets-1255928087719
#bushfiresprinklersystem #watertanks #disasterriskreduction #stormwater #bushfire #greenroof #planetaryhealth #katoomba #blackheath #bluemountains #beprepared
Our popular Upcycling Fashion Program has now been running for over a year! Come and check it out at Planetary Health Day on Saturday 1st March. As well, you can build your skills to reduce textile and plastic waste by sewing your own Boomerang Bag with @bbagsbluemtns , joining the Repair Network and learning darning with Elizabeth from @lacebrookstitchery Elizabeth has been studying how people upcycled and mended clothing throughout the centuries. She`ll be demonstrating some basic darning stitches that can be used on woven and knitted garments. She also shares her passion for the timeless crafts of stitchery, crochet, knitting, Victorian lacemaking, and darning skills, through her classes and workshops. You can find out more at www.lacebrookstitchery.com.
NB. There will now be a $10 cost to participate in the Upcycling Fashion Program with pattern maker Sherlie McMillan. Book your place here (link in profile):
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fashion-upcycling-program-on-skillshare-saturdays-tickets-1254329957669
#repair #repairnetwork #upcycledfashion #reducingtextilewaste #reducingplasticwaste #boomerangbags #learntosew #patternmaking #planetaryhealth #planetaryhealthday #katoomba #bluemountains #community
Our homes profoundly influence our lives, our health & the health of the planet. At Planetary Health Day on Saturday 1 March, Kirstie Wulf & Karina Rafailov will share their extensive experience in the session: Building Smarter Using Passive House Design & Natural Building Materials. Kirstie Wulf is the award-winning founder of @shelter.building.design & spoke to a packed room last year about building fire resistant homes with hempcrete. Karina Rafailov is the founder of @earthy_haus & specialises in creating energy-efficient, healthy, & nature-connected spaces.
You can reserve a place for this inspiring presentation here (link in profile):
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/building-smarter-using-passive-house-design-natural-building-materials-tickets-1235896873819
#buildingsmarter #passivhaus #naturalbuildingmaterials #hempcrete #planetaryhealth #planetaryhealthday #katoomba #bluemountains
We are thrilled that the internationally renowned physicist, Professor Emeritus Hans Coster will be joining us for Planetary Health Day to address the question of Life and Energy with his presentation: Evolution and the High Life, but Where to Now?
The options that are there for individuals and communities and society as a whole will be examined. An example of a viable energy system constructed with nickel iron batteries at Middle Earth in the Kanimbla Valley will be briefly presented. But is that approach viable for the larger community?
There is no simple way to address all of the issues. How can individuals operate in this energy environment? How do we maintain a healthy industrial sector? What are the Planetary implications of all this?
Whilst not attempting to provide answers, some food for thought will be presented. If you’d like to attend this presentation, reserve your place here (link in profile): https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/prof-hans-coster-on-life-energy-middle-earth-nickel-iron-batteries-tickets-1235955960549
#energy #life #nickelironbatteries #evolution #science #physics #planetaryhealth #middleearth #planetaryhealthday #katoomba #bluemountains #kanimblavalley #inspiration
Celebrating local innovation we`ll be kicking off Planetary Health Day at 9am on Saturday 1st March with a talk by Lithgow inventor Frank Inzitari. He and his cousin Frank Capomollo were featured on Shark Tank Australia with their invention Fire Halo: a fire-prevention system that cleans your gutters and can keep them flooded with water during bushfires. The product is designed to make it easier to prevent homes catching fire from ember attacks, which are the cause of around 75-80 per cent of bushfire damage to properties. It can also provide redirection of chemicals away from your tank when cleaning your roof or solar panels. If you`d like to find out more reserve your spot here (link in profile): https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/reducing-the-risk-of-ember-attack-with-a-fire-halo-tickets-1250666470079
@firehalo.au @sharktankau #firehalo #bushfire #disasterriskreduction #emberattack #planetaryhealth #planetaryhealthday #bluemountains #lithgow #katoomba
We had a fabulous day at the launch of the Birds of Australia STORYBOX in Springwood yesterday, giving everyone a preview of our Frogs of the Blue Mountains exhibition that will be on display at Planetary Health Day on 1 March. Our exhibition of Birds by Warren Hinder, Merryl Watkins and Holly Kent is now on display at Springwood. Worth checking out! If you`d like to find out more about all the frogs of the Blue Mountains, and come to Planetary Health Day you can register at the link in our profile. #birdsofthebluemountains #frogsofthebluemountains #frogs #birds #bluemountains #springwood #katoomba #planetaryhealth #planetaryhealthday
If you weren`t able to catch our fabulous exhibition of Bird Photography by Warren Hinder, Holly Kent and Merryl Watkins you can now pop down to the Blue Mountains Theatre and Community Hub where they`re on display to complement The Birds of Australia STORYBOX. We`ll be there sharing information about the Planetary Health Centre for the launch today from 10am to 12 noon. Lots happening for the whole family: presentations with the Australian Museum and STUDIO ESEM, WIRES, Wagana Dancers, a replica of Gould`s book in the library, Craft activities, environmental information stalls and more! Come along and say hello.
#planetaryhealth #birdsofaustralia #springwood #bluemountains #birdsofbluemountains
Research is indicating that increasing the number of plant-based meals we eat is better for our health and the health of our planet! A highlight of Planetary Health Day on Saturday 1st March will be the Plant Based Cheese Making Demo & Tasting by Teya from @plantinspired99 For anyone who loves food and cooking, learning new techniques is always exciting! Teya will demonstrate how to make basic artisan cheese, blue vein cheese and a melting mozzarella-type of cheese for your pizzas and warm sandwiches. Reserve your place here for this popular event (link in profile): https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/plant-based-cheese-making-demo-tasting-tickets-1235848188199
#plantinspired #plantbased #plantbasedcheese #planetaryhealth #planetaryhealthdiet #planetaryhealthday #katoomba #bluemountains #planetaryhealthcentre #newcookingtechniques
Timber is one of our most valuable resources but too often, when a tree comes down, people only think of turning it into wood chip or firewood instead of much higher value timber products that can last as long as the tree took to grow! Come along to Planetary Health Day on Saturday 1st March and be inspired by how Michael Trickett can bring his mobile sawmill to you and produce high value timber for building or furniture making. Reserve your spot for Planetary Health Day here (link in profile):
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/planetary-health-day-tickets-1235611640679
#timber #mobilesawmill #planetaryhealth #trees #morethanwoodchip #morethanfirewood #planetaryhealthday #katoomba #bluemountains
Have you been hearing frogs in your yard or neighbourhood? One of the highlights of our upcoming Planetary Health Day on Saturday 1 March is our exhibition of Frogs of the Blue Mountains. We`ll have photos of all the known frogs of the Blue Mountains with links to their calls and we`re thrilled that Britt Mitchell from the @australianmuseum will share her experience as a frog call validator for the Museum`s FrogID project. She will discuss how FrogID has assisted her PhD research: “Australia’s frog species in the Anthropocene – habitat loss, climate change, behaviour, and disease”, the positive impact FrogID is making and how to get involved with this Citizen Science project. If you`d like to hear Britt speak you can reserve a place here (link in profile): https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/frogid-people-powered-frog-conservation-tickets-1235831287649
The photo of the frog below is by Holly Kent and features in the exhibition.
@frogidaus #frogs #treefrogs #frogsofthebluemountains #planetaryhealth #planetaryhealthday #citizenscience #katoomba #bluemountains #familyday
Planetary Health Day is coming up on 1 March. SAVE THE DATE! We all need a Planetary Health Day where we can connect with community, have fun, get inspired, buy fresh local produce and learn ways to work together to restore the health of our planet and prepare for a more challenging future.
Check out our program and book to come along here (link in profile):
https://www.eventbrite.com.au/e/planetary-health-day-tickets-1235611640679
#planetaryhealth #planetaryhealthday #community #beprepared #conservation #restoration #repair #localproduce #mobilesawmill #frogID #plantbased #bushfire #disasterriskreduction #firehalo
