Energy efficiency integral to Australia’s climate change future
08/May/2007
The Insulation Council of Australia and New Zealand (ICANZ) today welcomed the Prime Minister’s indication that the government’s climate change response would be released some time in June.
The Prime Minister indicated that a long term response to climate change would be announced a few weeks after the government’s ‘whole of government review’ on the issue.
ICANZ Present Dennis D’Arcy said, “Demand side management initiatives that immediately reduce the enormous amount of energy wasted by Australia’s building stock must be a part of the government’s plan”.
There is now overwhelming international evidence from recently released reports[1] that insulation, as part of energy efficiency improvements to buildings, provides developed countries with the most cost effective and immediate response to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions reduction.
“Australia's housing stock is among the least energy efficient in the developed world, and policies that seek to redress this situation are in the best interests of Australia.
“Around 40 percent or 2.7 million of Australia’s homes are uninsulated. Retrofitting insulation into these homes is a low cost climate change response. It will deliver immediate and substantial greenhouse gas reductions for Australia and needs to be considered as an integral part of the Federal Government’s plan to address climate change,” Mr D’Arcy said.
[1] The UN IPCC report ‘IPCC Fourth Assessment Report, Working Group III, 'Summary for Policymakers' and McKinsey and Co ‘A cost curve for greenhouse gas reductions’
