Insulation industry welcomes Weekly Greenhouse Indicator for Victoria
09/Jan/2007
The Insulation Council of Australia and New Zealand (ICANZ) today welcomed the Victorian Government’s announcement of the introduction of a new Weekly Greenhouse Indicator for Victoria.
ICANZ President, Dennis D'Arcy' said the Victorian Government had shown world leadership by working to provide Victorian householders with regular updates on the state's greenhouse gas emissions.
"The most sustainable energy is energy that is saved. The Weekly Greenhouse Monitor will give householders a measure of the environmental benefits of their energy saving practices," Mr D'Arcy said.
“The Weekly Greenhouse Monitor is another important step in helping Victorians measure and understand the benefits of improving the energy efficiency and sustainability of their homes. In doing so it will help consumers make more informed purchasing decision concerning their energy use and greenhouse gas emissions,” he said.
Mr D’Arcy added that the Victorian Government as well as The Climate Group which developed the Indicator and the Purves Environmental Fund is to be commended for their efforts to improve household sustainability.
Mr D'Arcy said that educating consumers about the use of energy efficient appliances and improved building fabric products such as insulation, which can dramatically improve the sustainability of the average home and reduce home running costs, is of high importance.
"For examples, insulation is the single most effective way of improving the energy efficiency of a home. The cost of retro-fitting insulation into an existing home is very low and provides immediate and long-lasting financial and environmental benefits for a once only outlay. The energy saved by insulation is comparable to having a mini-generator installed in your roof that produces free energy, emits no pollution, and has no running costs," Mr D'Arcy said.
In summer, insulation can also help flatten the spikes in peak energy demand caused by the increasing number of air-conditioners being installed in Australian homes.
"Air conditioners provide many positive benefits to comfort and well-being during our long hot summers, but installing one into an uninsulated home is like running a bath with the plug out - it is just not sustainable," Mr D'Arcy said.
“The Victorian Greenhouse Indicator is a commendable initiative and will raise awareness of the importance of energy efficiency in addressing the consequences of climate change,” he added.
