Posts tagged ‘energy efficiency’
Call to Prioritise low-income housing energy performance retrofits in Budget2023
At Climate Action Merribek we understand the cost of living pressures, but also the climate emergency that means we need to change to renewables and increase energy efficiency. This is of great importance for those on low incomes and those people renting. Climate Action Merribek joined with over 90 other community, business and NGO organisations in a call for the Federal Government to Prioritise low-income housing energy performance retrofits in Budget2023.
(more…)“We welcome the Government’s development of an energy performance strategy as an important initiative. An ambitious home retrofit package, prioritising low-income household, as part of the strategy, would play a critical role in the energy transition supporting lower cost and faster energy transition, permanently reduce energy bills, and improve the health, wellbeing and climate resilience of people.”
“Direct government investment in deep retrofits for homes occupied by people on low incomes would build economies of scale and market capacity reducing the costs for all housing retrofits, while reducing poverty and inequality for the most vulnerable in our society.”
Joint Statement on Energy Retrofits in the Upcoming Budget
Time to Lift energy standards in the National Construction Code
Climate Action Moreland joined an alliance of more than 100 property, community, health and environmental organisations that issued a forceful call to the country’s Building Ministers to lift the energy efficiency of new homes built in Australia.
This is particularly important in Moreland considering new residential property development both in high rise and infill development to support a growing population density.
The powerful joint statement, released two weeks ahead of a National Building Ministers meeting, urges the Commonwealth, State and Territory Ministers to use the meeting to confirm amendments to the National Construction Code.
The proposed changes would increase the minimum energy efficiency requirements for new homes from a 6 to 7-star energy rating and have the potential to slash the average household energy bill by up to $576 a year, according to the Federal Government’s own analysis.
(more…)August 11, 2022 at 2:54 pm morelandclimategroup Leave a comment
Minimum standards needed for rental properties for energy efficiency and thermal tolerance
Energy efficiency and thermal tolerance of rental accommodation in Victoria is an important issue that needs to be addressed at state government level.
Far too many rental homes in Victoria, and particularly Moreland, aren’t up to scratch. Tenants are paying for it in outrageous heating and cooling bills and unhealthy living conditions. It’s unfair, even dangerous to those vulnerable including elderly tenants and those with medical or psychiatric conditions. And all that wasted energy is just adding to Victoria’s climate pollution.
Rental homes should be liveable homes. Environment Victoria have a petition to tell your State MP we need minimum standards for health, safety and efficiency for rental properties before they can be leased. This is particularly important for ensuring adequate thermal tolerance with air-conditioning in rental properties.
It’s now crunch time in this campaign.
Modernising Australia’s electricity grid – CAM’s submission to inquiry
Climate Action Moreland has made a submission to the House of Representatives Inquiry into Modernising Australia’s electricity grid. It is reproduced below.
Transitioning from Coal to Renewable Energy – CAM’s Submission to Senate Inquiry
Climate Action Moreland has made a submission to the Senate Inquiry on the Retirement of Coal-Fired Power Stations. It is reproduced below.
Our submission discusses and is guided by the following principles:
- Australia needs to rapidly transition to zero net emissions. The closure of coal fired power stations is an essential first step in this process.
- All of Australia’s communities need to plan a transition to a zero net emissions society based on 100% renewable energy and slashing energy wastage through energy efficiency and conservation.
- Communities that rely on coal power need a just transition plan that will not only mitigate the job losses experienced, but also help transform their economies to allow their communities to prosper in the future.
- In conjunction with the closure of coal-fired power, governments must complement these policies with strategies to ensure that our electricity systems are secure and reliable, and that electricity is affordable for all Australians.
- Rather than relying predominantly on market mechanisms, the transition will also require national planning, strong regulations and direct government investment and ownership.
Loy Yang Power Station – Photo by John Englart
Labor to keep Energy Efficiency program with a review to strengthen it
The new Victorian Government has moved quickly to ensure the continuance of the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target (VEET) scheme that the previous Liberal Government were preparing to abolish.
Increasing energy efficiency provides a double saving of reducing green house gas emissions and energy costs. It is one of the main methods the International Energy Agency suggests as necessary for tackling carbon emissions, already making a substantial contribution to mitigation efforts, even in Australia.
Energy and Resources Minister Lily D’Ambrosio announced on 19 December 2014 that the Victorian Government will retain the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target (VEET) scheme which will save 2000 jobs.
“Energy efficiency is one of the best ways for homes and businesses to reduce bills and greenhouse gas emissions.” said Lily d’Ambrosio.
(more…)
Part 3: Labor’s climate policy: so will we reach our paltry targets?
And we continue our special series on the Labor Party’s 2010 climate policies. Part one is here, and part 2 here. This edition, we discuss rewarding businesses for being responsible, chopping down trees that according to Labor don’t really exist, and we look at where we’re headed under Labor and where we need to go.
Rewarding business for energy efficiency
(hopefully they’ll turn off some lights too)
A one-off bonus tax deduction for businesses that undertake energy-efficiency capital works, starting from mid-2011. Cost of $180 million over four years, and $1 billion over a decade. Plus, in the meantime an extra $30 million for the Green Building Fund, which provides grants for retrofitting buildings. This is sensible, and could go even further. Wonder how long it will be before they start taking funding away from this one?
Rewarding business by freezing time
The government will keep emissions baselines frozen in time, rewarding businesses that reduce or constrain emissions before an ETS is introduced. If only we could freeze the entire world in time until Labor is ready to implement meaningful climate policies.
Green Start
(another embarrassing name change)
This policy replaces the Greens Loans Scheme, which offered interest-free loans to improve household energy efficiency, another scheme which had… issues. To make a fresh start (see what they did there?) Green Start scrapped the loans part and now offers energy assessments and some other vague unspecified energy efficiency help. Nobody knows, basically.
Photo: Peter Halasz
Native forest logging and logging and logging
Labor is arguing in international forums that emissions created from native forest logging should not be counted. Even though Victoria’s native forests are the most carbon rich in the world. And even though deforestation of native forests accounts for 20% of Australia’s net greenhouse gas emissions. Labor also says it is committed to a ‛net increase’ in Australia’s ‛vegetation cover’. Oooh, goody, more pine tree plantations where there used to be native forests!
Emissions target shooting
(too little, too late)
Just to recap. The IPCC is a group of scientists who issue comprehensive assessments on climate science. Their report states that to keep global warming at under 2 degrees celsius, Australia as a developed country needs to reduce emissions 40% lower than 1990 levels by 2020. HOWEVER, the IPCCs reports are always on the conservative side because it is a U.N. body and the world’s governments must approve their contents.
So here comes the really hard to take bit. Don’t worry, we’ll get through it together. (more…)
Climate Action Merribek: people in Brunswick, Coburg, Fawkner and Glenroy wanting action on climate change 