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At Carlton’s Café Lua, a local program helped inspire a range of sustainability improvements. These include switching to compostable take away cups, installing water-saving tap aerators, installing energy-efficient lighting and installing louvre windows for ventilation – a move which reduces the need for energy intensive air conditioning.
The Australian Government is delivering an additional $10.5 million in 2019–20 to improve the energy efficiency of Australian buildings.
The Blueprint for the Future delivers a plan to maintain security and reliability in the National Electricity Market in light of the significant transition underway, including due to rapid technological change.
This Independent Review into the Future Security of the National Electricity Market Preliminary Report identifies the complex forces driving a rapid transition across the electricity sector. It seeks input on key questions to navigate the transition in line with consumer expectations for a secure and reliable service, at an affordable price, that delivers on our national emissions reduction commitments.
Dr Finkel and the Panel thank respondents for their submissions. The submission period closed on 21 February 2017.
The submissions to the Independent Review into the Future of the National Electricity Market published are presented by the Department of the Environment and Energy and the Independent Panel for the purpose of sharing information about the Review. Submissions are now closed.
This report was commissioned by the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science as an input to Measure 31 in the National Energy Productivity Plan, 'Advancing the National Construction Code'.
The average small-medium retail business can use 80,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity a year. This factsheet shows how one business, Bottle King Liquor, saved on energy costs to run its fridges. By installing fridge timers, the business saved $135 a year for the running costs of each of its 7 drinks fridges, a $950 annual saving that was paid back in less than 2 months.
The International review of energy efficiency in data centres report presents a review of international policies, standards and issues relating to energy efficiency in data centres.
After an energy assessor audited Tint A Car’s showroom, workshop area and staff room, the changes made by the business immediately led to a 20% drop in energy use (despite higher temperatures than the previous year). This was achieved by replacing an energy hungry staff fridge, updating desktop computers with laptops, installing a roof top solar system and changing staff practices.
A Level 2 energy audit at Cairns Hardware found tens of thousands of dollars in potential annual energy savings. $5500 a year would be saved simply by changing to a more appropriate energy tariff;.$12,000 a year could be saved by replacing lighting on the company’s 3 sites with light emitting diodes (LEDs). Even air conditioning bills could be reduced, either via stronger air-curtains or automatic doors (a potential saving of $11,500 per annum). The company acted quickly, and has already begun making savings.
At Casey’s IGA in far north Queensland, an energy assessor found the local supermarket could save $3750 per year by switching fluorescent tube lighting to light emitting diodes (LEDs). The business could also reduce costs in the supermarket’s deli display section, if more energy efficient lighting was used, or the display was ‘de-lamps’ by cutting back on lights. These and other measures could save the business thousands of dollars.
A Level 2 energy audit at this luxury residential apartment building found thousands of dollars in potential energy savings. A change in energy tariff would reduce power costs, switching to light emitting diodes (LEDs) would save $1247 a year, and putting a timer on a heavy duty exhaust fan in the car park would cut it’s $3000 power costs. Acting on the recommendations quickly saved the body corporate 10% of its energy spend, despite electricity price hikes and significant savings will be reflected over time.
The 30 staff of Joe Vella Insurance Brokers (JVIB) work out of a refurbished historic building in Cairns CBD. The assessor analysed tariffs and advised on how to stay on the current, cheaper tariff – including via installation of a solar PV system, and recommended numerous simple changes to reduce the building’s heat load and save money. JVIB immediately took action and the savings are expected to be imminent, given many of the implemented changes have a short payback time.
The Union Jack Hotel has power bills of around $13,000 to $15,000 per month. After the results of two energy assessments were in, the business knew it would save over $3000 by switching to light emitting diodes (LEDs) lights, and more by installing a key card system for guests (to ensure lights and air conditioning turn off when guests are out). Further air conditioning savings (30%) were possible by upgrading to a more efficient system. These and other changes immediately save the business slash its electricity spend by 14%.
In 2015, AGL announced it would close Liddell Power Station in 2022. AGL later extended this to April 2023. This would make Liddell the next in a series of coal power station closures. The Australian Energy Market Operator warned there would be a higher risk of blackouts in NSW after Liddell closes, without more investment in dispatchable power. As a result of these concerns the Australian Government set up the Liddell Taskforce in August 2019.
The Glebe Point youth hostel in Sydney has saved $960 a year through moving to more efficient lighting options. Actions have includes replacing rooftop para floods with compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) flood lights; replacing 50 watt (W) down lights with 35W IRC halogen down lights; installation of fluorescent T5 conversion kits across the property; and replacing electric clothes dryers with gas units.
At the Albion Budget Supermarket in Brunswick West Melbourne a public event helped provide funds for sustainability improvements. Called a ‘Carrotmob’, this event promises businesses a ‘mob’ of consumers in exchange for the business owner spending some of that additional revenue on sustainability improvements. The $700 raised at this event covered the cost of replacing half the supermarkets existing lights with more efficient T5 fluorescent tubes. In turn, that has saved the owners money. The supermarket is on track to save over $600 in electricity costs every year.
Located at the southern tip of the Great Barrier Reef, Lady Elliott Island Eco Resort has done extensive work reducing its energy consumption. Changes have yielded a 3.5 year payback, and saved $270,000 a year in fuel costs. This factsheet explains many of the resort’s initiatives, including its work promoting energy efficiency to guests.
On 4 April 2019 the former Department of the Environment and Energy released an interim report on the liquid fuel security review.
In 2009, the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism coordinated a large energy-efficiency skills research project on Australia’s highest energy-using companies: the Long-term Training Strategy on Energy Efficiency Assessment Skills. This identified skills gaps and shortages that may be limiting their ability to fully realise their energy efficiency potential. Skills gaps and shortages were found within the trades sector, as well as in key professions such as engineering, accounting, business and management.
Our department recognises the First Peoples of this nation and their ongoing connection to culture and country. We acknowledge First Nations Peoples as the Traditional Owners, Custodians and Lore Keepers of the world's oldest living culture and pay respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.
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