Archive News

5 August Future Job Opportunities for Victorian Manufacturers: 1200 Buildings Retrofit Stimulus Report

The Department of Innovation, Industry and Regional Development Victoria has released the report Future Job Opportunities for Victorian Manufacturers: 1200 Buildings Retrofit Stimulus. The report analyses the product demand likely to be generated by the City of Melbourne's 1200 Buildings Program, which aims to facilitate the retrofit of 1200 privately-owned commercial buildings by 2020, and examines the capability of Victorian manufacturers to meet this demand. Read the full report here.

26 July Victorian Climate Change White Paper Released

The Victorian govenrment has released its Climate Change White Paper: Taking Action for Victoria's Future. Launching the document 26 July, Premier Brumby said the new Energy Efficiency Target would cut Victoria's greenhouse gas emissions by 5.4 million tonnes a year. Read the full paper here.

25 July Labor announces $1 billion for retrofits

The Energy Efficiency Council today welcomed Labor's leadership in announcing incentives for retrofitting existing buildings. Labor's Tax Breaks for Green Buildings will provide up to $1 billion for retrofits undertaken between 1 July 2011 and 30 June 2015. The Council is now calling on the Opposition to at least match this scale of commitment. For Labor's commitment read here.

22 July The Age argues that "Energy Efficiency is a win-win for climate policy"

The Age newspaper ran an editorial on 19 July that argued that both parties need to take strong action on climate change. For more information read the full editorial here.

14 July Peter Szental mourned by energy efficiency industry

Peter Szental, the Founding President of the Energy Efficiency Council and a tireless and passionate champion for sustainability, passed away on 14 July 2010. Peter was greatly respected in the energy efficiency industry and will be widely missed. For more information read the Council's full statement.

24 June Energy efficiency could save $5 billion a year: report

Australia could slash electricity waste by setting a 'serious' national energy efficiency target, mandating investment in efficiency by electricity networks and levying companies that don't spend money on energy efficiency, says a report by the Energy Efficiency Council. Read the full article at Carbon and Environment Daily here (subscription-based).

24 June Buildings to get energy efficiency tick

Landlords will soon have to disclose the energy efficiency of buildings to potential tenants or buyers. Federal Parliament has passed new laws today which mean from July 1 anyone leasing or buying a property in a commercial building must be provided with a current energy efficiency certificate. Read the full article at ABC News here.

24 June Julia Gillard promises carbon price

In her first speech as Prime Minister Gillard stated, "If elected as Prime Minister I will re-prosecute the case for a carbon price at home and abroad." Read the full story at WME Environmental Management News here (subscription-based).

24 June Companies told to get smart on power

Australia could meet most of its promised greenhouse gas cuts and save money along the way by using energy more intelligently, a report shows. The nationa lags behind all other developed countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, said the Energy Efficiency Council, which commissioned the report. Read the full article in the Sydney Morning Herald here.

1 June Energy Efficiency Push

Governments at all levels waste $450 million of taxpayers' money a year on inflated energy bills due to inefficiencies in public buildings, an adviser to the Rudd government has found. The government's pre-election commitments are expected to include policies to improve industrial and building energy efficiency, based on options proposed by the Prime Minister's Task Group on Energy Efficiency this month. Read the full story in The Age here.

7 May Energy Efficiency - the Sleeping Giant of Climate Change

This week was the deadline for submissions to the Prime Minister's Task Group on Energy Efficiency. The Energy Efficiency Council's submission to the task group pushed for greater focus on energy performance contracts, a national incentive scheme for energy efficiency retrofits, $500 million to support several innovative models to provide capital for energy efficiency upgrades, and mandatory display of NABERS base building and tenancy ratings. To read the full article from The Fifth Estate, click here .

23 April Townsville Shortlisted for Smart-Grid Funding

Townsville has been shortlisted as one of three Australian cities for the Federal Government's $100 million smart-grid funding. Townsville Enterprise Limited (TEL) Economic Manager Lisa McDonald said that more than 1,000 residents submitted ideas to the city council, many of which suggested energy efficiency projects. "So it's really just a survey that gauges the support that people have for energy efficiency," said Ms McDonald. To read the full article from ABC News, click here .