Emerald Community House and Beaconsfield Dental are two finalists in this year’s Premier’s Sustainability Awards.
Beaconsfield Dental has been announced as a finalist in the Sustainable Places and Destinations category (industry) of the Premier’s Sustainability Awards 2022 for its efforts not only to care for the environment themselves, but also to inspire and motivate others in the community to do the same.
Beaconsfield Dental was built on the philosophy of caring for the community and the environment.
In clinic, they have employed a variety of sustainable steps including solar power and hot water, rain water collection, an Indigenous garden including edible natives, recycling, energy saving building design, energy efficient appliances and LED lighting, artwork promoting the environment, Tesla charging station and compost bins.
Beaconsfield Dental owner Lisa Panjkov said it was an absolute privilege to be nominated.
“My husband Robert and I had solar panels in our home that we built about 21 years ago, and then we had an opportunity to build a dental clinic, so we wanted to include sustainability measures from the very beginning because it’s easy to implement at the start,” Mrs Panjkov said.
“Now we have 144 solar panels on our roof; we use water tanks for our toilets and native garden and we also recycle soft plastics and have compost bins.
“Running a business and having solar power just makes sense, and it’s very cost effective and reduces emissions.”
She said sustainable protocols have become part of her daily life.
“We’re now educating others on how to implement sustainability practices – it’s important that other people jump on board,” she said.
“We have an environmental policy on our website that other businesses can look at.”
Emerald Community House is a finalist in the Sustainable Places and Destinations category (community).
It is a 1914 National Trust-listed bakehouse that has been converted to become an off-grid solar system providing renewable power to the Dig In Community Grocery which sells food that is organic, locally grown or locally produced, cutting down on the cost and impact of transportation.
The community not-for-profit grocery also provides free food to those on a tight budget or doing it tough.
Emerald Community House co-manager Mary Farrow said the garden had been running since November 2021.
“The Dig In Community Grocery is very deserving; it’s an enterprise we started on our own and we’re operating the business on an off-grid basis,” she said.
“We had a vision for this very important building and in restoring it we made it able to be used for a community enterprise.
“Our grocery uses fresh food from local and organic farms and we buy it and sell it for a cheaper rate than grocery stores.
“It’s very popular with the local community, people love coming in there and feel good about their shopping and it’s a great central spot to go to catch up.”
The awards recognise organisations and individuals who are trailblazers, leading the way in Victoria’s transition to a circular, climate-resilient economy.
The winners will be announced at an in-person awards ceremony on Tuesday 20 September.
