Energy Efficiency
Insulation in buildings is a key component to improved energy efficiency.
Australia has a major opportunity to increase its energy efficiency, and reduce the impact of dangerous greenhouse emissions. However electricity consumption is expected to grow at an average of 2 per cent per annum over the next two decades.
Source: ABARE
In July 2009 the Council of Australian Governments signed off on a National Strategy for Energy Efficiency, supported by a Memorandum of Understanding between federal and state governments. The strategy aims to improve minimum standards for energy efficiency, accelerate the introduction of new technologies through regulatory incentives and address barriers to improve energy efficiency.
A key efficiency technology in Australia is insulation. Through the use of improved insulation, well designed shading and efficient glazing the amount of energy used for the heating and cooling of Australian buildings can be substantially reduced.
Ceiling and roof insulation can save up to 45 per cent on the energy used for heating and cooling. According to the Insulation Council of Australia and New Zealand, retrofitting uninsulated homes could save 2.4 million tonnes of greenhouse gas each year. (Source: The Federal Government’s Home Technical Manual)
In 2008, 58 per cent of dwellings used energy saving lights in at least one room, while 22 per cent had compact fluorescent lights in every room.
Source: ABS, Environmental Issues: Energy Use and Conservation, Mar 2008
- Household appliances account for about 30 per cent of total energy consumption and
53 per cent of residential greenhouse gas emissions. - Two-thirds of Australian households have an air conditioner or evaporative cooler.
- 56 per cent have a clothes dryer, although 13 per cent reported that they never used their clothes dryer.
One third of households have two or more
refrigerators in use
Source: ABS, Environmental Issues: Energy Use and Conservation, Mar 2008
To accelerate the uptake of energy efficiency measures across the Australian business and household community, a number of measures have been introduced by the federal government. Emerging out of amendments made to Australia’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) legislation is the possible development of a broad-based energy efficiency market mechanism in 2010. The Climate Change Action Fund provides funding for businesses to undertake energy efficiency measures from 1 July 2009. The Australian Carbon Trust will give households the opportunity to invest directly in the reduction of the country’s emissions, and to drive the improved energy efficiency of buildings. Households are supported to reduce their emissions through the Energy Efficient Homes Package which provides funding to install solar water heaters and insulation; and a Green Loans Program.
A National Strategy on Energy Efficiency aims to improve minimum standards for energy efficiency, accelerate the introduction of new technologies through regulatory incentives, and address identified barriers to energy efficiency. The strategy increases the stringency of Minimum Energy Performance Standards and mandatory energy rating labelling for appliances and equipment; increases the minimum energy efficiency requirements for buildings through an enhanced Building Code of Australia for 2010; and introduces mandatory disclosure of a building’s energy efficiency. The Energy Efficiency Opportunities (EEO) program was introduced in 2006 to improve energy efficiency via a mandatory reporting scheme for corporations to report on energy saving opportunities.
