CORENA is a non-profit volunteer-run organisation. Our powerful revolving fund enables all Australians to help tackle the climate emergency by donating to projects that reduce carbon emissions immediately.
How CORENA works
Community organisations apply for zero-interest loans to pay for projects such as installing solar panels, improving energy efficiency, switching away from fossil gas use, or purchasing electric vehicles. The resultant savings on energy/fuel bills cover the loan repayments into our revolving fund. This means organisations can reduce their carbon footprint at no cost to themselves, and after their loan is fully repaid they reap the additional benefit of having lower operating costs.
We then invite everyone to chip in to help fund the project. We use those new donations and recent loan repayments from earlier projects to give a loan to cover the project costs. From 1/7/22, up to 20% of loan repayments will be set aside to help cover the cost of increasing our project delivery capacity.
Chip in to help fund one of the projects below. Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible.
Apply for a no-interest project loan to reduce your organisation’s carbon emissions.
We’d love your help! Become a member, volunteer, or help spread the word.
Alternatively you can set up a recurring weekly or monthly contribution and we will allocate your donation to whichever Quick Win climate project is next in line for funding at the time your contributions arrive.
Your donation does not just help fund one project. It will be used over and over again as loan repayments return your money to the revolving fund. A donation of $100 to our first project has already been re-used many times and has paid over $415 towards overall project costs to date.
Together we have funded 46 projects that reduce community carbon emissions since 2013.
Your donations are powerful! They continue revolving and growing in impact forever. They enable community organisations to reduce carbon emissions at no cost to themselves. And we all receive the climate benefit.
Current projects
Project 45 – Fair Food EVs
UPDATE: These electric vans were due to arrive in Australia in mid-2022, but delays caused by the war in Ukraine mean they will now arrive in late 2022.
We remain committed to giving an interest-free loan of approximately $82,000 to CERES Fair Food when they take delivery of two new Ford e-transit delivery vans and associated charging equipment.
We currently have a number of potential new projects under discussion, including our first project for replacing fossil gas use with efficient electric alternatives. We’re still confirming the details, but you can select either that or the more general ‘Coming soon’ option when you chip in to reduce carbon emissions via our climate projects.
Recently funded projects
Project 46 – Merriwa
Merriwa Industries will soon have 99.5kW of solar installed at their premises. Not only do they employ over 350 employees of which over half have a diagnosed disability, thanks to this CORENA loan they are now also greatly reducing their carbon footprint for the benefit of everyone everywhere.
Project 44 – CC Steiner School
The first stage of a 99kW solar installation has now been installed at Central Coast Steiner School thanks to donations made specifically to this project plus earlier donations and loan repayments. Completion of Stage 2 is expected mid-year.
Top image: 30kW installed on gym roof, April 2022
Bottom image: Remainder to be installed on new performing arts centre when building is completed
Your impact so far…
We knew our revolving fund would mean that donated money would be used again and again, but even we were surprised when we analysed what happens in detail.
Go to the Impact Calculator to see how your impact has grown.
Projects menu
All projects
1. Tulgeen
2. Gawler
3. Beechworth
4. Camden
5. Nannup
6. Ravenshoe
7. Warradale
8. Moss Vale
9. Pegasus
10. Parkholme LED
11. Greenbushes
12. Yack Health
13. Kulchajam
14. Tastex
15. Brimbank
16. Enova
17. Albert L-T
18. Trish L-T
19. Coast FM transmitter
20. Apprenticeships Q
21. Mansfield Kindergarten
22. Frances L-T
23. Clunes Old School
24. Coast FM studio
25. Sonia L-T
26. Peacemakers
27. CERES
28. Engadine
29. Kuranda
30. Marlin Coast
31. Uralba
32. Club Italia
33. Clunes Coronation
34. Woden Valley
35. Woonona Bulli
36. Coorabell Hall
37. Ballina-Byron
38. Robert Menzies College
39. Tarremah
40. Abbeyfield
41. Geelong Bowls
42. Walpole
43. Parkholme solar
44. CC Steiner School
45. Fair Food
46. Merriwa
Coming soon
First getting off gas project