Stalled work on ramping up building quality will hurt Aussie families 21 December 2018
This week’s failure of COAG energy ministers to move forward on a national plan to improve the energy performance of Australian buildings is deeply concerning, according to the Energy Efficiency Council.
Council CEO Luke Menzel said that the window is closing for governments to establish a pathway for steadily improving the quality of homes and other buildings so they are healthier, more comfortable and use less energy.
“This is a bewildering outcome. Well over 50 consumer groups, professional associations and industry bodies have come out in support of establishing a long-term pathway for improving the quality of the buildings we all live and work in.”
“The decision before energy ministers was simply to recommend further work on the viability of this approach. Yet inexplicably this decision has been deferred, which means there is a real danger that these crucial issues won’t be considered in the next three-year regulatory cycle.”
Mr Menzel said that a failure to resolve this issue quickly would have real costs.
“The data is crystal clear. Upgrading minimum energy standards for new buildings would have a huge cumulative impact by 2050, reducing energy bills by up to $27 billion, network costs by up to $7 billion, and deliver at least 78 million tonnes of cumulative emissions savings.”
“If we don’t establish a plan to improve the quality of our buildings, Australians will be sicker and poorer than we would otherwise be, and cost-effective carbon savings will be left on the table.”
“There is still time to fix this, but the window is closing. We call on energy ministers around the country to back in further work, so we can get on with the job of making our buildings better.”
Media contact
Andrea Von
T: 0451 079 259
E: andrea.von@eec.org.au