The manager of Warrnambool’s South Coast Junior Aquatics has been searching for ways to become energy smart, ideas she’ll share at an event on Friday.

Ms Williams is one of the guest speakers at ‘Smart Energy, Smart Business’, an event featured in the 2018 Small Business Festival.

The two-hour session is a joint initiative of Moyne Shire and Warrnambool City Councils aimed at inspiring local businesses to become more energy efficient.

The event will include ideas on saving on electricity bills, upgrading energy systems and how to apply for grants and rebates. 

Ms Williams’ said her own search for better energy efficient ways to heat, filter and disinfect her 130,000 litre pool had been ongoing. 

“We currently pay over $20,000 per year to stay heated at 34 degrees for 24 hours a day,” she said. “We use the same electricity as a small dairy farm.

“We haven’t found the best way but we’ve made a start and I’ll share what I’ve found so far.”

Ms Williams said her initial research had stemmed from a cost-saving idea.

“I’ve been doing this for 14 years,” she said. “After wages, energy efficiency was our second biggest line item and we do spend a lot for the size of us.

“We spend a lot on energy.”

Wannon Water managing director Andrew Jeffers, who will emcee the breakfast session, said the event was about sharing ideas.

“Bamstone and Ripcurl have both implemented projects in recent times and they’ll give a warts-n-all discussion on what they found through it all, worked really well and what didn’t and what’s really important when you’re trying to undertake projects like this,” he said.

“It really has become an economic benefit.

“People were signing up for solar because they thought it was good for the environment, it now also saves you money.

“It’s not just good for the planet.”

Friday’s event will be held at The Lady Bay Resort from 8.30am.