Noosa Council has funded a new independent service by Zero Emissions Noosa (ZEN) to help local businesses rein in rising energy costs and make the most of new technology.
Josh Stevens is ZEN’s new Noosa Business Energy Advisor to offer practical, no-cost advice to small and medium-sized businesses across the Shire.
“We know businesses are time poor, so this service is to help you reduce your energy bills and improve your bottom line,” said Josh.
The free service is available to businesses operating in the Noosa Shire, and is completely vendor-neutral—no commissions, no product sales. Josh doesn’t represent an energy retailer or equipment supplier.
“My brief is to help businesses understand how to use less energy, use it smarter, and invest in tech like solar, batteries and electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure, if and when the numbers stack up,” he said.
Support includes quick efficiency reviews; assessing the business case for solar, batteries, EV chargers, among others; assessing indicative return on investment to navigate rebates and market trends; and some of the strategic opportunities available.
“I’ll be asking about your typical trading hours, major appliances, tariff, and consumption data,” Josh said. “I’m looking for high-reward, low-effort energy savings first.”
Josh says preparation for the business is minimal. “We start with a recent power bill and a sense of your daily operations and then go from there,” he said. “A typical initial visit takes less than an hour and can be on-site or virtual.”
What’s in it for business? Josh says clarity, savings, and ultimately bottom line growth. “In most cases, these options can also lead to fantastic indirect benefits like business resilience (for example, in the case of a blackout), customer attraction, branding and access to discounted ‘green’ finance.”
Local examples demonstrate the potential. Through previous ZEN projects, several businesses have already experienced significant benefits from energy improvements for example:
● Noosa Marina installed a 100 kW rooftop system with energy management, reducing site-wide electricity costs and passing savings through to tenants. They are now looking at further options around batteries and EV chargers to save money and better serve tenants and customers.
● Noosa Sun Motel halved quarterly electricity costs, from roughly $4,000 to $2,000, after installing a 15 kW solar system that paid itself off in just over two years. They have installed further demand management systems as well as EV charging to help their business grow.
● Di Henshall Interior Design installed a 32kW solar system, helping to offset their energy bills with a payback period of less than two years while also delivering on their sustainability goals.
The Noosa Business Energy Advisor will build on such successes by making advice accessible to any local business that wants to explore its options.
“We know there are savings out there. The challenge for most business owners is time and knowing where to start, who to trust, and which steps will actually deliver value.”
Josh has already begun meeting with local businesses and associations to review bills, discuss operations, and identify opportunities tailored to their circumstances.
“This is about giving business owners the confidence to make informed decisions,” he said. “It’s not about pushing products. It’s about showing what’s possible and helping turn it into reality” said Josh.
“With energy markets shifting quickly, we want Noosa businesses to stay ahead of the curve.”
To book a free advisory call contact Josh Stevens at josh.stevens@zeroemissionsnoosa.com
