Federal political party positions on carbon pricing

In the wake of Julia Gillard’s speech this morning, it is now clearer than ever that neither major party is likely to impose a price on carbon in the short term.

Mandatory Disclosure of Energy Efficiency in Commercial Buildings (07/2010)

With the passing of new mandatory requirements to disclose the energy efficiency of a commercial premises, owners and lessors must ensure the accuracy of the information being disclosed. This, combined with the fact that tenants will place greater value on those facilities with higher energy performance ratings, means that mandatory disclosure under Building Energy Efficiency Disclosure (BEED) will require owners to focus on improvements in the performance of their facilities to maximise the marketability and yield.

2010 Carbon and Energy checklist

The checklist outlines key reporting deadlines and regulatory news updates.

Save money on your energy bills, despite recent price increases(07/2010)

This article considers the latest trends in energy prices and the opportunities to significantly reduce your energy costs through analysis, planning and renegotiation of your electricity supply contracts.

Assessing uncertainty under NGER (06/2010)

Uncertainty assessments will be an NGER compliance requirement from 2010/11 reporting period.

6th Australia-New Zealand Climate Change & Business Conference (06/2010)

Held in Sydney, Australia, 10-12 August 2010, the 6th Australia-New Zealand Climate Change & Business Conference will focus on business providing leadership on climate change action.

RET-affected trade-exposed (RATE) assistance (06/2010)

The RET-Affected trade-exposed (RATE) assistance scheme has been developed to protect emissions-intensive trade-exposed (EITE) activities from increased electricity costs associated with the expanded Renewable Energy Target (RET).

Interview with Dr Mary Stewart (06/2010)

With the recent demise of the CPRS and while we wait for the expected report from Prime Minister’s Task Group on Energy Efficiency, we speak to Dr Mary Stewart, Group General Manager, Resources and Heavy Industry, Energetics, to consider the issues for companies within these sectors. These challenges include the implications of the current 2020 national emissions reduction target; the ongoing importance of a strategic business response to climate change; the role of energy efficiency, and the complexity facing decision makers as they consider how best to “future proof” their businesses in the face of uncertainty.

Federal Budget 2010: Climate budget at a glance (05/2010)

Within its Federal Budget, the Government has announced the Renewable Energy Future Fund and the Climate Change — Foundation Campaign that relate to taking action on climate change.

CPRS deferral should not delay climate action (05/2010)

With rising energy prices, the mandated renewable energy target, government energy and carbon reduction programs and public/ customer support for climate change action, it would be wrong to assume that carbon management should no longer be a priority for Australian organisations: particularly large energy users.

Report from US EE Global Conference (05/2010)

In May 2010, Jonathan Jutsen (Energetics’ Founder and Executive Director) attended EE Global: the Energy Efficiency Global Forum in Washington DC attended by almost 1000 international delegates. The conference is run by the US Alliance to Save Energy, with an Australian chapter currently being established in Australia (Australian Alliance to Save Energy, or A2SE).

Skills for Sustainability in the Food Processing Sector and Beyond (03/2010)

Australia's food processing sector is a particularly important part of the nation's overall food production. It has been expanding at a healthy rate over the last decade and, today, trade in processed food products is growing at twice the rate of bulk commodities, making up 20 per cent of the manufacturing industry. The sector also accounts for around 18 per cent of employment in the manufacturing sector.(1)

How to take 1 million tonnes of CO2 emissions out of the atmosphere: energy efficiency in commercial buildings (03/2010)

Energetics considers the impact that energy efficiency measures can have on the emissions attributable to commercial buildings. Events, such as the global Earth Hour, continually draw attention to the significant reductions that can be achieved through switching off and powering down sources of energy within a commercial building.

NSW: differing views on drivers of electricity prices increases (03/2010)

On March 18, a number of media outlets carried stories covering the decision of the NSW Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal's (IPART) decision to award unprecedented increases in electricity prices.

Australia's “Low Carbon Growth Plan”: the business opportunity for GHG abatement cost curves (03/2010)

A Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Abatement Analysis provides a thorough understanding of the range of greenhouse gas abatement options. This approach provides an excellent tool to improve the decision making process for sequencing potential carbon mitigation investments.

Queensland: is your business aware of the new energy and greenhouse reporting thresholds that now apply? (03/2010)

There are two reporting schemes that apply to businesses with sites in Queensland: the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) scheme (a nationwide compliance program) and Queensland's Smart Energy Savings programe.

The end of cheap energy in Australia (02/2010)

Since the first edition of Climate Change Matters back in August 2009, the editorial team has maintained a focus on Australia's steeply rising energy prices and the likely impacts Energetics experts foresee for business.

Carbon Disclosure Project reports due 31st May 2010 (02/2010)

The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) reporting deadline for invited ASX 200 companies to submit their report is 31st May 2010. Other companies are able to submit a report regardless of not being listed on the ASX 200.

How to take 1 million tones of CO2 out of the atmosphere (02/2010)

With each edition of Climate Change Matters, Energetics will profile a method by which greenhouse gases can be removed and cost savings achieved.

COP15: the search for certainty (02/2010)

Participants and observers of Copenhagen agree that the process was at best difficult and at worst, a failure. As a result, a growing number of commentators are questioning the ability of the multi-lateral process to generate real outcomes for such complex issues as climate change.

Managing the upcoming electricity price increases (12/2009)

By Chris McPherson, Senior Consultant, Energetics Pty Ltd. In the July 2009 edition of Climate Change Matters, Energetics reported that electricity network prices were set to rise by an average of 23%.

The numbers on climate change (12/2009)

What are the numbers associated with climate change and the proposed CPRS response? Below are links to three seminal papers which provide the data necessary to understand the size of the task Australia has to reach a carbon mitigation target of between 5-25% reduction on 1990 levels.

First NGER reports: Experiences from participating businesses (12/2009)

In the November edition of “Climate Change Matters”, Energetics conducted a short survey requesting that those involved in the compilation of their organisation’s first NGER report, provide feedback on their experience.

Change is in the air: carbon disclosure and the materiality of climate change to asset risk (12/2009)

To ensure an assets carbon disclosure is utilised to maximise positive investor response and capital growth opportunities, that disclosure should not just feed into and report on strategy, but be itself strategically managed.

Book Review: Sustainable Energy, by David MacKay (12/2009)

Dr Gordon Weiss, Energetics' Principal Consultant, Process Efficiency, reviews a book which challenges some of the current thinking around energy demand and supply.

Delaying action now means more effort to catch-up (12/2009)

By Hamish Moline and Dr. David Mitchell, Energetics Pty Ltd. Amidst this week's noise on the demise of the CPRS, Energetics urges business to take action now on climate change. Any delay in taking concrete action is unlikely to result in a smaller abatement target, but will require us to do the same amount within a shorter timeframe.

COP15 - Business impacts (12/2009)

By Tanya Fiedler, Senior Consultant, Energetics Pty Ltd. Following 2 years of intense negotiations, as outlined in the 2007 Bali, the 192 parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) are meeting in Copenhagen, Denmark, from 7- 18 December 2009. The intent of this 15th Conference of the Parties (COP15) is to agree on a replacement to the Kyoto Protocol which is due to expire in 2012. Given current uncertainty surrounding Australia domestic policy response to climate change, this meeting, the signals it sends and outcomes it achieves, assumes an even greater significance for business.

Top 10 water saving tips (11/2009)

By Peter Holt, Principal Consultant, Energetics Pty Ltd. "There are savings to be made through water conservation and efficiency. Water costs must include chemical use, discharge fees and a raft of hidden operational costs. What are the top 10 cost saving tips?

Making the business case for implementing energy efficiency measures in a tough economic climate (11/2009)

EEO Program participants were asked how they were making business cases for energy efficiency projects, to increase the likelihood of getting the resources they needed for implementation. Many reported that the GFC has reduced the availability of capital for such projects over the past 12 months. This has made it even more important to prepare a detailed and comprehensive business case.

Current developments in the Australian natural gas market (11/2009)

Australia has abundant reserves of natural gas, the lowest carbon emitter of the fossil fuels. It has proved a reliable, cost effective energy choice for many Australian businesses. This article considers recent developments in the supply of natural gas and the emergence of a gas trading market.

New research confirms the return on investment that can be achieved through energy efficiency projects (11/2009)

In difficult and financially constrained times, careful and considered investment in improving energy efficiency, coupled with capital investment in fabric and plant maintenance, should be integral to any building’s ongoing asset management strategy.

Could your business achieve greater energy cost savings? (10/2009)

In recent work with clients focussed on delivering considerable energy cost savings, Energetics' procurement team considered a number of key learnings in strategic energy procurement.

Government funds allocated to energy efficiency expected to be announced shortly (10/2009)

The Commonwealth Government announced in the May Budget a number of new energy efficiency programs funded by the Climate Change Action Fund (CCAF) for 2009-2010.

Making Buildings More Efficient (10/2009)

How to deal with an existing and ageing national building stock designed and built in times when requirements for high standards of energy efficiency were not even contemplated? This a dilemma facing the architects of energy efficiency programs here in Australia and elsewhere in the world.

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