Easy Being Green
Easy Being Green is one of the largest energy efficiency operators in Australia. It was established in 2004 and have been responsible for organising mass consumer action on energy efficiency. As of 2013 the company had aided over 750,000 homes and businesses with energy efficiency. The company has managed to prevent more than 5 million tonnes of carbon pollution from entering the atmosphere through their various energy efficiency projects.[1]
Easy Being Green was founded in 2004 by Nic Frances to focus on residential energy efficiency in Australia. His work in the UK to provide assistance and employment opportunities to vulnerable people was acknowledged when he was awarded the MBE. In 1998, he emigrated from the UK to Australia. There, he led the Brotherhood of St Laurence until 2004. His work earned him an Australian Centenary Medal.[2]
From 2005 to 2007 Paul Gilding took over the running of Easy Being Green. Prior to this, Gilding served with Greenpeace between 1989 and 1994 as an Executive Director for Greenpeace International and Greenpeace Australia. Gilding helped build Easy Being Green to a successful business employing over 200 people. The company used carbon trading to drive mass consumer action on energy efficiency. In doing so it achieved 4,300,000 tonnes of CO2 reductions and established domestic energy efficiency as a mainstream consumer and policy priority opportunity in Australia. [3]
In 2008 Easy Being Green was acquired by Jackgreen Ltd, Australia’s only renewable energy retailer. The business continued as Jackgreen’s energy efficiency arm, offering free residential energy efficiency services and upgrades. Easy Being Green in 2009 launched a major campaign on Solar hot water in which it offered a free system with an interest free green loan on the installation.
In 2010, the founder of Jackgreen Ltd, Andrew Randall, purchased the Easy Being Green assets and has been running it ever since. The company today continues as a leading Australian energy efficiency organization, with large residential energy efficiency programs, energy efficiency audits, green loans, a strong commercial efficient lighting operation and solar sales and installation.