This project aims to transfer the Low Carbon Living (LCL) Program piloted in the Blue Mountains (RP3010 & RP3010e1) to Southern Highlands of NSW.
The LCL Blue Mountains program was developed as Living Laboratory piloted between 2014/16. It recruited 30 businesses to engage in a carbon audit for energy, waste and water use. They were then rated for their reduction in carbon use and their business were promoted on a website ‘Low Carbon Living- Blue Mountains’ launched in May 2016.
Beginning in July 2016 the businesses were invited to become paying members of the program and 95% joined, providing the financial resources for the program to become self-funding. There are now more then sixty members. A Google analytics review in late May 2017 of one member demonstrated that around 34% of their visitors in previous six months had come through the LCL-Blue Mountains website and were attracted to their business because of their Gold rating for carbon reduction.
In November 2017 members of the Southern Highlands Regional tourism organisation and Wingecarribee Shire Council contacted the "Blue Mountians World Heritage Institute (BMWHI) interested in the taking up the LCL-Blue Mountains program with an agreement on transferring the program beginning in the financial year 2017/18.