Allies To Make Energy Saving Count

As many Australians were already taking steps to reduce their own carbon emissions, these cuts should be made in addition to any cap set under a proposed carbon pollution reduction scheme (CPRS), while a group of organisations committed to progressing energy efficiency in Australia have created a new Australian Alliance to Save Energy (A2SE) modelled on the US-based Alliance to Save Energy. In addition, the Pew Center focuses on corporate energy efficiency.

The commitment of nearly a million households who voluntarily buy green power or install solar panels to reduce their emissions needs to be better recognised in the design of a national emissions trading scheme.

Clean Energy Council chief executive Matthew Warren said many Australians were already taking steps to reduce their own carbon emissions and these cuts should be made in addition to any cap set under a proposed carbon pollution reduction scheme (CPRS).

“Many Australians voluntarily buy green power and install solar panels because they want to make a difference to Australia’s carbon emisisons. The danger is that the CPRS in its current form does not reflect the importance of these actions and properly account for them, eroding the incentive for customers to purchase clean energy,” he said.

GreenPower has been an important driver of additional renewable energy deployment since its introduction in 1997. The government’s current proposal only acknowledges voluntary GreenPower purchases above a baseline of 2009 sales, with a five year time lag in the tightening of caps.

Mr Warren said the CPRS cap should be tightened each year according to the amount of clean energy bought or generated by these consumers, regardless of the 2009 baseline. 

Mr Warren said further delays to the CPRS only served to increase uncertainty for businesses and investors.

“There is a lot of uncertainty in the clean energy sector at the moment as businesses watch and wait for clarity on the shape of the carbon market in Australia,” Mr Warren said.

“The CPRS is not perfect, but let’s get a system in place as soon as possible and we can improve it as we go.  The renewable energy target (RET) was a great example of collaboration between the two major political parties, but we need an emissions trading scheme to recognise the environmental cost of energy and drive instment in clean technology.

“We would like to see more of the bipartisan spirit that was evident in the passage of the RET to help address one of the defining challenges of this generation.”

The clean energy industry also wants to see a significant proportion of the revenue from the auction of carbon permits reinvested in research, development and demonstration for renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies, including infrastructure and grid upgrades.

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The Clean Energy Council, the peak body for the clean energy sector, is working with all Australian governments to ensure a secure and diversified energy sector; a reduction in energy waste including the take up of solar water heating and insulation and more clean energy sources in our stationary energy mix from solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, wave, bioenergy and gas.

Source:  www.cleanenergycouncil.org.au

A group of organisations committed to progressing energy efficiency in Australia have created a new Australian Alliance to Save Energy (A2SE) to further their shared goal of cost-effective greenhouse gas reductions through smarter energy use.

The new alliance is modelled on the US-based Alliance to Save Energy. The two alliances recently signed a memorandum of understanding stating their recognition “that Australia needs a stronger voice for energy efficiency that can advance the case for saving energy through nonpartisan, collaborative work”.

“Improving energy efficiency to cost-effectively reduce greenhouse emissions is a goal shared by all sides of government and many business leaders in Australia,” said A2SE interim CEO Mark Lister.

“A²SE is being formed because, despite this near universal recognition, the enormous potential of energy efficiency still lacks profile in the debate.”

Planned A²SE activities will include research, outreach activities, and the facilitation of stronger partnerships for energy efficiency, demand management and distributed energy activities among government, industry and the community.

Alliance to Save Energy President Kateri Callahan said “We are eager to work with the A²SE to raise the profile of energy efficiency in Australia, to advance energy efficiency in both of our countries, and to help address climate change, energy security and economic well being around the world.”

Private and public entities already involved in discussions on the formation of A²SE include members of the Australian business community, including Siemens and Schneider Electric, Australian government officials, members of Australia’s Federal Parliament from both sides of the house, and foundation representatives.

Australia’s Environment Minister Peter Garrett and Shadow Minister Greg Hunt both signed an endorsement letter for the formation of the new organisation in July. The A²SE plans to outline its program of first year activities and formally launch in November.

The new organisation’s website is already up and running.

The A2SE will follow the same model as the US Alliance to Save Energy – a coalition of business, government, environmental, and consumer leaders working together to inform and promote the efficient use of energy

Source: www.ecogeneration.com.au and www.a2se.org.au

About the Project

The Pew Center’s Corporate Energy Efficiency project is a multi-year research and communications effort to identify and highlight the most effective methods used by companies today to reduce their energy consumption and lower their related greenhouse gas emissions. The Pew Center will publish a report in early 2010 summarizing key findings, and additional materials will be posted on this web site. The project is funded by a three-year, $1.4 million grant from Toyota.

Particular emphasis is given to management approaches that companies have implemented to improve their energy performance across five categories: Internal Operations; Buildings; Supply Chains; Products and Services; and Cross-cutting Issues.

Project Activities

Project activities include a survey on corporate energy efficiency strategies, workshops, a comprehensive report, major conference, and this web portal to continuously inform on corporate energy efficiency strategies. To help guide the overall research effort, the Pew Center assembled an 11-member expert advisory committee.

About the Survey

In early 2009, the Pew Center distributed a 65-question survey to nearly 100 leading companies. The survey was designed to gather key quantitative data, identify trends, and gauge current activities in corporate energy efficiency.

About the Workshops

To help inform the report, the Pew Center held four workshops of its Business Environmental Leadership Council (BELC). The workshops brought together presenters from leading companies to discuss their efforts on different aspects of energy efficiency: Internal Operations and Facilities, Supply Chains, Products and Services, and Integrated Approaches.

About the Report

In April 2010, the Pew Center will publish a comprehensive report on best practices in corporate energy efficiency strategies. The report will summarize key findings from the survey and workshops, and will also feature six in-depth case studies of particularly effective company programs. The report is being authored by William R. Prindle, vice president at ICF International.

About the Conference

The Pew Center will release the report at a major conference in Chicago, April 6-7, 2010. Please check back for details on the conference, as well as additional events that will take place following April 2010. 

About the Web Portal

This web site is intended to be a portal to the best information available on corporate energy efficiency strategies. This is a compilation of resources for business leaders, policy makers, journalists and others interested in learning more about corporate energy efficiency. The web portal features a searchable database of energy efficiency strategies undertaken by companies in the Pew Center’s BELC, energy efficiency resources by topic, and information on relevant external reports, news and events. 

Source: www.pewclimate.org