Multilateral commitment to household energy efficiency crucial to nation’s climate change response
26/Oct/2007
The Insulation Council of Australia and New Zealand (ICANZ) said today that all federal political parties needed to share a unified policy approach to improving the energy efficiency of Australian homes.
Dennis D'Arcy, ICANZ President, said that with all parties accepting the science and recognising the importance of climate change, the election was a perfect time to put forward clear and detailed policies and realistic greenhouse abatement targets.
“This included the parties showing to Australians multilateral leadership and commitment to the best response available to address climate change - energy efficiency – the one that all Australians can be involved in and benefit from," Mr D'Arcy said.
Mr D'Arcy said that improving the energy efficiency of Australia's built environment would deliver dramatic and immediate environmental, economic and social benefits.
“Improved energy efficiency is universally recognised as a major measure in addressing climate change, and it should be a necessary and essential part of all climate change strategies right across the political spectrum,” he added.
"Local and international studies have shown conclusively that the most cost-effective of all greenhouse gas abatement measures is insulating the large number of uninsulated existing buildings,"
Mr D'Arcy said. "With 40 percent, or 2.7 million, of Australian homes having no ceiling insulation, it is not surprising that our housing stock is amongst the least energy efficient in the developed world. What is surprising is how quick and easy this problem is to solve.
"Retro-fitting insulation into uninsulated homes is simple, clean, and cheap, and the benefits are immediate and long lasting. But the life span of the average home is about 70 years, so the sooner we get moving on a national insulation retrofit program, the sooner we can end the energy waste and reap the rewards of energy efficient living," he said.
Studies commissioned by ICANZ show that retrofitting insulation into Australia’s 2.7 million uninsulated homes would deliver immediate and lasting benefits:
- savings to householders of $2.9 billion on household energy bills pa
- individual savings per household of between $89 and $336 pa
- abatement of 2.4 million tonnes of greenhouse gases pa. (or over 100 million tonnes by 2050)
- savings of $250 million on new energy infrastructure
- reduction in electricity prices through delayed infrastructure spending
- increase in GDP of $894 million over the period 2008 – 2030
"With the forecast rise of air-conditioner installations in Australia, it is alarming that uninsulated homes will continue to leak energy at an increasing rate. An insulation retrofit program is a national priority," Mr D'Arcy said.
