Pittwater’s tradies riding the wave of sustainability

I joined Surfers for Climate and a great team of Northern Beaches tradies at the URBNSURF for TUBIES (Trade. Up. Building. Innovation. Expo. Sustainability). Australia’s premier tradie surf comp and sustainability expo lets tradies swap work boots for wetsuits and learn about new climate and environment-friendly technologies, career paths and upskilling opportunities in sustainable building.

Economic opportunities abound when it comes to home electrification and residential sustainable building. Opting to electrify the home provides energy independence to homeowners, but also means investing in local tradies and local businesses, rather than big business or multinationals. 

Earlier this year the NSW Government provided subsidies for home batteries, and – drumroll please – Northern Beaches had the highest uptake, with 402 installations as of April. Demand has grown even higher since, with the Federal Government offering small businesses and homeowners a 30% rebate (roughly $4k off a standard 11.5–13.5 kWh battery installation) with additional funding for those who join a virtual power plant offered by the state government. The result is a shortage of local installers on the Northern Beaches.

There’s a growing effort by state and federal governments to engage, educate and empower tradies to integrate sustainability and electrification into their work and grow their business. When local tradies learn these skills, Pittwater residents benefit from more sustainable homes that are better suited to the environment and cheaper to run. 

Out at URBNSURF, between heats, competitors met innovators and suppliers to learn about new sustainable materials, cleaner energy options and low-carbon products. Featured projects included homes built from recycled materials, solar tile technologies and rethought waste, water and energy use, as well as how to manage water on site and in coastal LGAs to minimise impacts to waterways and beach pollution. Each exhibitor showed how small changes on a job site can lead to big environmental gains. 

It was great to catch locals, including legendary parasurfer Emma Dieters, local Tafe Legend Peter Purcell, and Daniel Page of Ocean Protect, who implemented stormwater treatment measures to keep our waterways safe.

At the event last year, my inaugural podcast as an MP was on ‘Ain’t That Swell’ and it was great to rejoin Jed for another discussion on government policy, sustainable industry trends, the economic growth local tradies can take advantage of, and the benefits of emerging materials like hempconcrete.

If you’re keen to explore more sustainable building, there are simple ways to get involved whether you’re on the tools or planning a renovation. Every project, big or small, is a chance to build a cleaner, more sustainable future.

Offering sustainable building options isn’t just good for the planet, it’s good for business. Demand for energy efficient and low-waste design is growing. There are many ways to get involved; from connecting with Surfers for Climate and finding out about the next event, to joining the Green Building Council of Australia to build skills or specialise in sustainable practices. 

Planning a renovation or new build? Ask your tradie about sustainable choices and explore the NSW Government rebates and program supporting solar, battery storage and sustainable materials.