Promoting energy efficiency
Australia can use energy more efficiently. This means considering in the first place whether we can conserve our use of energy; then it means taking steps to avoid waste when we do use energy; and finally, it means being smarter – working out how to get the same outcomes while using less energy to achieve them.
Increased energy efficiency has multiple benefits:
- lowering carbon pollution
- improving energy security, and
- helping households and businesses cope with rising energy prices.
Reducing the amount of energy we use is a quick, simple and cost-effective way to reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions.
The International Energy Agency suggests that energy efficiency could deliver 65 per cent of all the global greenhouse gas abatement needed to reach a target of 450 parts per million of CO2.
Our energy efficiency strategy
The Australian Government has an extensive energy efficiency agenda. Our work includes regulating for more efficient industries, providing incentive programs, trialing a more efficient kind of energy supply, providing a wide range of information resources and working on improving the energy efficiency of the government's own operations.
The National Strategy on Energy Efficiency is a landmark agreement between Australian, state and territory governments setting out a work plan for energy efficiency improvements in all sectors of the Australian economy. The strategy is supported by a Ministerial Council on Energy, which is a series of joint government groups that coordinate much of our energy efficiency efforts for buildings, appliances and equipment, industry and business, government, transport, skills, innovation, advice and education.
A report of the Prime Ministers Task Group on Energy Efficiency was also developed to advise the Australian Government on options to improve Australia's energy efficiency. A response to the recommendations of this report were included in the Clean Energy Future Plan.
Programs
The Australian Government has made a range of initiatives available to homes and businesses to help them waste less energy and become more energy independent.
Support for businesses is also available from the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research through Clean Business Australia and the Green Car Innovation Fund, and the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism through the Energy Efficiency Opportunities Program.