November 2008 - National Energy Efficiency Strategy, energy and water reporting, Carbon Market Expo outcomes
Energetics supports The Climate Institute's call for increased business incentives outlined in the National Energy Efficiency Strategy. This newsletter also highlights upcoming Energy Savings Action Plan deadlines in NSW, provides a state-by-state view of water efficiency planning and reporting, and key outcomes from the recent inaugural Carbon Market Expo.
Monday 10 November
Energetics joins push to increase business incentives as part of the new National Energy Efficiency Strategy
The Council of Australian Governments announced last month that they are fast-tracking the development of a new National Energy Efficiency Strategy to be finalised by December 2008. This new policy process comes at a time when business is seeking to achieve cost savings as well as carbon emissions reductions.
This is why Energetics joined with a broad alliance of influential business, social and environmental groups to promote a suite of policies that will drive greater energy efficiency. The alliance brought together by The Climate Institute has produced a policy paper released today that proposes new incentives for the business sector to implement energy efficiency. The policies recommended for the business sector include:
- accelerated depreciation and other tax incentives;
- removal of perverse subsidies to energy use and demand side management;
- energy efficiency grants and low interest loans; and
- introducing minimum energy performance standards for commercial and industrial applications.
Energetics recognises that the new National Energy Efficiency Strategy presents an opportunity to provide new incentives for business. It also provides an opportunity to better align the current programs and policies that have been introduced by different levels of Government which has created some confusion and inefficiency for business.
Click the link to read the report
Focus on water, state by state - planning and reporting deadlines
Most Australian states have developed formalised water efficiency planning and reporting. South Australia and Western Australia remain the only states which require plans of their largest water users: all other states have moved to annual reporting of implementation measures. Energetics can help business achieve significant water efficiencies and cost savings. Contact Peter Holt, Principal Consultant, Sustainable Water Management on holtp@energetics.com.au.
Click on the pdf link to view a state-by-state outline of water management planning and reporting deadlines.
NSW Reminder: Annual reports due for Energy Savings Action Plans (ESAPs)
All registered organisations under the ESAP initiative are required to submit annual reports on the anniversary of the acceptance of their energy savings plan. For many businesses reports are therefore due on 31 December 2008. For assistance contact Gordon Weiss, Principal Consultant, Process Efficiency on weissg@energetics.com.au
Carbon Market Expo 2008
Over the last two days of October, 1100 delegates attended the inaugural Carbon Market Expo Australasia on the Gold Coast where Energetics was the Expo's Carbon Management Partner. Founder of Energetics and leading expert on energy efficiency, Jon Jutsen, chaired a session entitled "The environmental and economic benefits from systemic energy efficiency" and Energetics' Principal Consultant, Government Policy, Anna Reynolds was a panel member for a workshop entitled, "Developing Australia's Carbon Policy Reduction Scheme, policy and implementation issues".
The organisers reported that two major messages emerged from the Expo. Below is an excerpt from a letter sent to conference participants following the event:
"Firstly, there is vast commercial opportunity in tackling climate change and Australia could be on the cusp of a new era of prosperity and job creation. This reinforced Treasury's findings that there are major market and industry development opportunities in tackling climate change.
But the second message was one of serious concern and it came from bankers, investors, infrastructure developers, technology companies, and energy companies. They stressed that scaling up cleantech and clean energy projects in the very near term is vital and finance flows must not be hindered.
Speakers, delegates and exhibitors called on the Australian Government to avoid a price cap or fixed price for emissions permits. Otherwise they say, the commercial upside of investment in clean and renewable energy, recycling, and major forestry and land use carbon offset projects would be irreversibly jeopardised. This would kill off the critical investment into new projects in Australia and would remove any chance of Australia becoming a carbon and finance hub for the region."
Michael Whitehead, Director, Carbon Market Expo.
6.11.2008
This is a link to Carbon Expo website