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Joint statement: Clean Energy Council passes the baton of insulation installer certification to the Energy Efficiency Council in 2022 21 December 2021

Insulation is an essential component of healthy, comfortable buildings. Adequate insulation can increase thermal comfort, lower heating and cooling bills, and reduce the prevalence of illness and death. Insulation reduces emissions from electricity and gas, and improves the reliability of the grid by lowering electricity demand.

The Roadmap for quality control and safety in insulation installation – which was developed by a coalition of industry associations and released in May 2021 – identified training and certification of insulation installers as an essential step in enabling quality, safe insulation installations in Australian homes and commercial buildings.

As part of its significant contribution to the clean energy industry, the Clean Energy Council (CEC) has been running the insulation accreditation program for insulation installers since 2013. This program has been critical to enabling the safe and effective installation of insulation in Australia, which in turn is essential to achieving the goals of the Trajectory for Low Energy Buildings.

With the rapid growth of the renewables industry, and the Energy Efficiency Council’s (EEC) recent deep engagement with the insulation industry, the CEC has decided to pass the baton for managing the insulation accreditation program for insulation installers to the EEC. The CEC will stop processing new insulation applications from 1 April 2022, with the EEC beginning to do so from 1 July 2022 under a new Insulation Installer Certification, which will come into effect under the EEC’s new umbrella certification framework.

To not adversely impact any installers whose accreditations expire between 1 January and 30 June 2022, any individuals that are due for renewal in that time will have the CEC extend their accreditation until 30 June 2022, enabling a smooth renewal process and recertification with the EEC’s Insulation Installer Certification.

The EEC will be managing the Insulation Installer Certification on an interim basis until 31 June 2023, with a review of needs undertaken in advance of then to ensure that the program effectively facilitates the availability of qualified installers to deliver quality insulation installations. Permanent arrangements will be announced in due course. Considering this, the CEC’s current program will be largely replicated under the interim arrangement with the EEC. However, the EEC will begin a public consultation in early 2022 to ensure that the certification meets industry, government and consumer needs.

If you would like further information regarding the consultation process, which will initially take place in the first quarter of 2022, please fill in this expression of interest form and we will come back to you early in the new year.

With all levels of government targeting net zero emissions by 2050, ensuring adequate insulation in all homes and commercial buildings is a critical component of achieving these targets while enabling healthy, comfortable homes and workplaces for all Australians. The CEC and the EEC look forward to continuing to work together to ensure that this happens.

If you would like to know more, please note this in the expression of interest form.