Compliance

Expert assistance that adds value to your business

For most participants, 1 July 2011 marked the beginning of the second five year cycle of EEO.   The most pressing deadline is the requirement that participants assess a minimum percentage of their energy use by 30 June 2013 (or complete an assessment in each key area of activity by the same date).

High-quality delivery of an assessment can be the difference between a compliance burden and a successful cost savings exercise. Integrating the requirements of EEO with normal business systems and processes can ensure that EEO is not seen as a standalone compliance exercise.

Combining your EEO site assessments with the evaluation of greenhouse gas abatement opportunities can assist a company to understand and control its climate change risks.

We have been involved with the EEO program from its outset and can help you respond to the seven stages of the reporting program,  prepare data for multiple reporting schemes, as well as adapt and integrate data with your ISO50001 energy management system.

Energetics' approach to EEO assessments, data capture and workshop facilitation provides:

• maximum savings
• a platform for continuous improvement processes
• coordinated energy management and engagement at corporate and site levels
• the ability to leverage internal expertise to add value and capture knowledge
• internal operational excellence through capacity building
• EEO report outcomes fed into multiple Federal and State schemes
• consistent internal policies, practices and procedures
• opportunities which, when implemented, result in energy and cost savings

Energetics’ proven assessment methodology draws on accepted audit standards, our proprietary best practice management diagnostic tool (One2Five®), and CarbonScopeTM to manage information and reporting requirements.

Our EEO experience dates back to conducting an initial review of the program design, assessing legislative impacts on business, conducting corporate EEO pilots, and streamlining EEO with other government mandatory and voluntary programs. 

EEO pre-verification services

Energetics provides an independent EEO pre-verification service to support our clients’ internal assessment and reporting procedures.

Energetics works with over 40% of NGER companies to manage their reporting requirements. We provide NGER verification support to in-house sustainability teams and develop strategies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs.

NGER reporting

Our NGER experts’ understanding of energy and greenhouse reporting methods and experience across a wide range of industries ensures your NGERS inventory is prepared to an exceptional standard, giving you confidence in its accuracy and submission readiness.

We have the ability and flexibility to guide and assist you throughout the entire process. Alternatively, we can support you at various stages of the NGER reporting process as outlined below.

Energetics can also report outcomes to multiple Federal and State schemes.

NGER verification

Energetics is a member of the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DCCEE), Greenhouse and Energy Audit Panel. We have a number of auditors with experience in NGER compliance, as well as extensive experience on the audit panel of the NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement and Energy Savings Scheme, which is likely to form the basis of a Federal energy efficiency program.

About the NGER scheme

The Australian National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting (NGER) Act requires larger energy users and greenhouse gas (GHG) emitters to report greenhouse gas emissions, energy production and consumption.

Companies are not notified of their requirement to complete NGER. The Act maintains that it is the company’s responsibility to monitor production and consumption, and register and report by the key dates outlined below. Significant penalties apply for non-compliance with the NGERS, with maximum civil penalties of $220,000 and daily penalty provisions for continuing offences. CEOs can also be liable.

Unsure of your reporting obligations?

We can conduct a preliminary analysis of your data and confirm whether your facility or corporation exceeds the reporting thresholds. We can also provide advice on overall NGER requirements and process.

Your company will need to report if:

• the company produces 50,000 tCO2e or 200 TJ of energy are produced or consumed
• a facility produces 25,000 tCO2e or 100 TJ of energy are produced or consumed

Key dates

31 August – Corporation to apply for registration

31 October – Corporation to submit financial NGER data through the OSCAR portal

28 February – Government to publish data

A BEEC is comprised of:

• a NABERS rating
• a tenancy lighting assessment in the area of the building that is being sold or leased
• general energy efficiency guidance

NABERS rating

NABERS (the National Australian Built Environment Rating System) measures an existing building's environmental performance during operation against energy use and greenhouse emissions, water use, waste, and indoor environment.

For more information on Energetics’ NABERS capabilities and accredited consultants, click here. 

Tenancy lighting assessment

Tenancy Lighting Assessments must be conducted by a CBD accredited assessor. The Lighting Assessment works out the Nominal Lighting Power Density which provides a rating in watts per square metre of assessed space in a building as well as an assessment of the capacity of installed lighting control systems. The assessment is made for both installed lighting and, where applicable, for proposed lighting systems. The Lighting Assessment provides meaningful data for benchmarking and potential lighting upgrades

General energy efficiency guidance

General energy efficiency guidance is provided by the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency (DCCEE) when a BEEC is issued – no further action is required from the building owner, manager or assessor.

BEECs are valid for up to 12 months and must be publicly accessible on the online Building Energy Efficiency Register.

Our NABERS accredited experts can ensure your building is BEEC-ready and tailor commercial office energy efficiency solutions to meet your strategic objectives.

For more information on CBD requirements and penalties, visit the Commercial Building Disclosure website. 

Energy and Water Saving Action Plan (ESAP & WSAP) NSW

Energetics works with high energy and water consuming organisations with to prepare Water and Energy Savings Actions Plans – a comprehensive analysis of the organisation's energy and water use respectively, and management strategies. Thresholds for reporting are:

• businesses in NSW using more than 10 gigawatt-hours per year at a site
• all local councils in NSW with populations of more than 50,000 people
• NSW Government agencies which use more than 10 gigawatt-hours per year at a site.

Smart Energy Savings Program (Qld)

The program requires participating businesses to undertake an energy audit, develop an energy savings plan and publish their actions for each relevant site, on a five-yearly cycle.

Businesses are required to register their site(s) for the program if the energy consumed at the site(s) in a financial year exceeds regulated energy thresholds. Businesses that are part of a corporate group that uses more than 500TJ of energy a year will be captured by the Commonwealth's Energy Efficiency Opportunities program, and will not be required to participate in the Smart Energy Savings Program.

The energy thresholds and verification or 'trigger' years for the program are as follows:

• 100TJ but less than 500TJ of electricity or processed natural gas used in the financial year ending 30 June 2010
• 30TJ but less than 500TJ of electricity or processed natural gas used in the financial year ending on 30 June 2011, 2012, 2013 or 2014
• 10TJ but less than 500TJ of electricity or processed natural gas used in the financial year ending 30 June 2015.

Energetics works with clients to determine energy savings measure during the SESP process and conducts audits to comply with a level 2 energy audit under Australian Standard AS/NZS 3598:2000.

Environment and Resource Efficiency Plans (EREP) (Vic)

All commercial and industrial sites in Victoria that use more than 100 TJ of energy and/or 120 ML of water in a financial year need to prepare a plan that identifies actions to reduce energy and water use and waste generation. Each site that exceeds one or more thresholds must register with Victoria Environment Protection Authority (EPA), prepare a plan, implement actions with a payback period of three year or less, and report on their performance annually.

We work with clients to meet EREP compliance and identify business improvement opportunities that often do not require major capital expenditure and provide market advantages.

The annual due date for submission of plans is 30 June.

Energy Efficiency Opportunities (EEO)

Energetics works with over one third of the 300+ EEO companies’ at all seven stages of the program to conduct EEO assessments and provide EEO verification support to in-house sustainability teams. Read more