Container of Dreams Limited (CODL) lives up to its name by providing an innovative pathway to home ownership for people who might otherwise be excluded from the traditional housing market. Based in the Tenterfield region of NSW, CODL is helping turn dreams into reality for some of the community’s most vulnerable residents. In addition to offering housing solutions, the organisation runs regular workshops that empower locals with practical skills and knowledge, laying the groundwork for greater self-sufficiency and long-term growth.
With the support of a $20,000 Community Led Climate Solutions grant, funded by Boundless Earth, CODL helped economically disadvantaged residents in the Tenterfield region to access an off-the-grid electricity supply – a much more sustainable alternative to the previously used petrol-powered generators. Accessing funds through this grant allowed CODL to purchase and install a solar connected battery storage unit and charging station that allows residents to charge their batteries and devices.
By limiting use of expensive petrol-powered generators, the installation successfully reduces greenhouse gas emissions and provides a free source of electricity, lowering the cost of living for all users. This is especially important for residents who have struggled to afford the rising costs of fuel for generators.
This project is rooted in active collaboration with local residents, who were engaged in the decision-making process during its development and execution, ensuring their needs and preferences were met. The use of solar batteries as a power source is already empowering individuals to make informed, sustainable choices about their energy use. It’s also helping to raise awareness and understanding within the community about how battery storage can be applied in their own homes and lives.
A delightful and unexpected bonus of this project is how it has brought the community together. The charging station acts as a hub of activity, where residents talk and engage with each other while charging their devices – further strengthening community networks.
This project has both immediate and long-term benefits for the Tenterfield community and for our planet. It has helped to establish a model for sustainable living that extends beyond individual households while aligning with broader climate change action goals.
Founder and CEO of CODL, Doctor Urquhart, told us that the feedback from Tenterfield residents has been positive and the project’s impact is already being felt. She continued, “We are proud of the fact that our organisation can offer a free service to the community to charge their devices and batteries with our sustainable, renewable power solution.”