The Origin Local Savers program will award a $3500 grant to one Bendigo community or sporting group and one business and $1000 grants to three households.

All recipients will also receive an audit from Origin Energy advocate Anne Armansin who will identify areas where their grant could be best used.

Origin consumer media and partnerships manager Amy Stockfeld said the grants could be used to upgrade electrical appliances, install power-saving light bulbs or connect timed power switches to eliminate standby power usage.

“We hope Origin Local Savers will help Bendigo residents become more aware of the simple things that can be done around the office, home or in the community to better manage their energy usage,” she said.

Bryley Drummond and Jon Savage hope to gain a grant to install a solar panel system at their Golden Square home.

“We want to use it for our power and hopefully make enough to put back into the grid,” Ms Drummond said.

The environmentally-friendly family of three recently received an energy bill which was two-thirds the average bill amount of a single person living in an apartment.

“Our computers have power saving devices, we have energy saving lamps, currently no television and we are conscious of turning off lights,” she said.

Ms Drummond said it was important the family used as little energy as possible to save on costs and the environment. 

“It’s just our way of life,” she said. 

“We are just into not wasting things and we try to recycle things where possible, whether it’s food, old goods or things like energy,’’ she said. 

“If these options are available for you to save energy, why not use them?”

For more information on the Origin Local Savers program, visit originenergy.com.au/localsavers