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Australia ranks worst for energy efficiency in developed world 27 June 2018

Australia has gone backwards on energy efficiency, leaving it ranked the worst performing major developed country in the world according to a new global report released today.

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy’s (ACEEE) 2018 International Energy Efficiency Scorecard ranks Australia 18th among the world’s 25 largest energy users, a fall from its 16th-place position in the 2016 ranking.

The report also shows Australia lagging behind developing nations such as India, Indonesia, and China.

Luke Menzel, Chief Executive Officer of Australia’s Energy Efficiency Council, said: “Australia’s deteriorating performance on this international index is a wake-up call for policymakers, planners, and business leaders. Our global competitors are saving energy and money with smart energy efficiency policy and investments, while Australia lags at the back of the pack.”

Australia ranked near the bottom on industrial and transport energy efficiency in the report, which assessed countries on both policy and performance. Its strongest score was in building energy efficiency.

“While this result is disappointing, it points to a huge opportunity. We can quickly cut energy bills, while making our homes more comfortable and our businesses more productive by being much smarter about how we use energy.”

“Taking advantage of this opportunity will require strong government leadership, and smart new energy efficiency policies that help us keep energy affordable while we transition to a twenty-first century energy system,” said Mr Menzel.

Report author Shruti Vaidyanathan, Senior Advisor for Research at ACEEE, said: “Australia would definitely benefit from stronger energy efficiency policies that save money, create jobs, cut pollution, and reduce dependence on energy imports.

“Without stronger energy efficiency measures, it will also be impossible for countries, including Australia, to meet the commitments necessary to achieving the global climate goal of capping temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius.”

The report acknowledged Australia’s National Energy Productivity Plan which aims to improve energy productivity by 40 per cent between 2015 and 2030, but said that implementation of the plan has been slow.

The full report is available here.

For interviews with Luke Menzel, CEO, Energy Efficiency Council or Shruti Vaidyanathan, Senior Advisor for Research, ACEEE, please contact Holly Taylor on 0481 346 145 or holly.taylor@eec.org.au.