News

NEW IEA REPORT: AUSTRALIA COULD CREATE QUICK JOB WINS WITH ENERGY EFFICIENCY

A MAJOR NEW REPORT from the International Energy Agency (IEA) has highlighted the crucial role of energy efficiency in creating jobs and helping to protect households from economic shocks - but Australia is a global energy efficiency laggard, warn experts.

The IEA report, released today, points to the potential for energy efficiency measures to create long term, sustainable employment, with local data from the Energy Efficiency Council showing that a major energy-smart drive for Australian homes and businesses could create more than 120,000 job-years of employment.

However, Australia is the world’s worst-ranked developed country for energy efficiency. Energy efficiency experts and community advocates calling on Australian governments at all levels to lift their game and support households and businesses to save on power bills while creating much-needed new job opportunities.

For interviews contact Vaidehi Shah on 0452 290 082 or Fiona Ivits on 0487 003 872

TALENT AVAILABLE

Luke Menzel, CEO, Energy Efficiency Council, can talk about the state of national energy efficiency policy, and why Australia is the world’s worst performing developed country on energy efficiency—and how upgrading the energy efficiency of Australian homes and businesses can quickly create 120,000 jobs. He can go into detail on the policies and measures needed for Australia to capitalise on the huge benefits of energy efficiency. 

Shane Rattenbury, ACT Minister for Climate Change can talk about the enormous success of the ACT’s Energy Efficiency Scheme, which has seen ACT households save over $240 million since the scheme began in 2012, including $15 million for low income households, and the crucial role of government policy in building support and takeup of energy efficiency schemes.

Greg Bourne, Climate Councillor, can talk about the role of energy efficiency in reducing Australia’s emissions, driving down household power bills and creating opportunities for new jobs and growth to lead the country towards economic recovery, and why energy efficiency needs government support to lift Australia’s performance.

Will Steffen, Climate Councillor, can talk about the ACT’s energy efficiency scheme, and how energy efficiency is an unsung hero in tackling climate change and driving down emissions.

Rob Law, Central Victorian Greenhouse Alliance, can talk about the work regional Victorian councils are doing to increase energy efficiency measures in low-income households to slash power bills and improve health, and how increased government support for energy efficiency measures would help councils to create significant numbers of regional jobs in retrofitting and installation.

Chris Barfoot, Latrobe Community Power Hub, can talk about the opportunities for regional job creation and employment, and boost for SMEs in the Latrobe Valley.

David Craven, director, Cities Power Partnership, can talk about the important role of local governments in boosting regional economies through energy efficiency programs, and energy efficiency success stories at a local level from councils across the country.

Declan Clausen, Deputy Lord Mayor, City of Newcastle, can speak to the energy, emissions and financial savings the City of Newcastle has secured via rolling out a major amount of energy efficiency upgrades to infrastructure throughout the city including its museum and street lights.