Judy Pratt and daughter Emily Ballantyne-Brodie are green-conscious. 30476 Picture: Stewart Chambers
By Melissa Grant
Ms Pratt is committed to making a difference to the environment at a grassroots level, while other members of her family are promoting sustainability on a global stage.
Her daughters Emily and Laura Ballantyne-Brodie are passionate about reducing their carbon footprint – so much so they are devoting their time to get others from around the globe to follow in their footsteps.
Emily, 25, is completing a Masters in Environment and Sustainability and is the creator of Future Canvas, a volunteer organisation which aims to get people to “re-design” the way they live to benefit the environment. It’s a role that has taken her to places such as New York, Milan and Israel to promote sustainable living.
And 24-year-old Laura, who has almost finished her law degree, is a director of Energy Alliance Australia, a not-for-profit organisation which collaborates with large companies to provide clean energy.
Then there’s Judy’s son-in-law Ken Galbraith whose company Ideas designed the bikes which recently powered an Earth Hour concert featuring Living End at Federation Square.
“We’re all environmentally conscious,” Ms Pratt said.
At Ms Pratt’s Upper Beaconsfield house it’s the small things that count.
This includes sorting waste, recyclables and compost, and using as little electricity as possible. Ms Pratt is also in the process of getting a water tank connected to the house and recently took up the offer of reduced cost 1kv solar panels through the Casey-Cardinia solar neighbourhood project.
Casey-Cardinia solar neighbourhood co-ordinator Rob Campbell said home owners who installed the solar panels could reduce their household emissions by two tonnes per annum and save about $215 from their electricity bills each year.
Ms Pratt predicted she was likely to see a significant drop in her electricity bills in a few years’ time.
“I’m looking forward to the future when there are less people in the house,” she said.
Ms Pratt praised Mr Campbell for starting the Casey-Cardinia solar neighbourhood.
“It’s going to help me and people like me who are going to have increasing electricity bills,” she said.
“We should be harvesting more of the sun’s energy.”
To find out more about the Casey-Cardinia solar neighbourhood call Rob Campbell on 0401 842 738, or email rcampbell8@gmail.com, or visit www.rezeko.com.
For information about the Future Canvas organisation visit www.futurecanvas.org
