HEADLINES
Building sector can cut carbon permit price by 14 per cent
22 September 2008
Media Release
Australia's building sector could cut the projected price of carbon trading permits by 14 per cent – and generate annual savings of $38 billion by 2050 – with energy efficiency measures that complement the federal government's proposed carbon pollution reduction scheme (CPRS), says a new report commissioned by a cross section of peak building industry and environment groups.
'The Second Plank – Building a Low Carbon Economy with Energy Efficient Buildings' report was commissioned by the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council's (ASBEC) Climate Change Task Group in response to the CPRS Green Paper. The report is being released in Melbourne today to coincide with the World Sustainable Building conference.
The ASBEC Climate Change Task Group comprises representatives from the Australian Institute of Architects, the Green Building Council of Australia, the Planning Institute of Australia, the Property Council of Australia, the Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineers, the Australian Conservation Foundation the Australasian Energy Performance Contracting Association, the Association of Consulting Engineers Australia, Building Products Innovation Council and the Facility Management Association of Australia.
The report provides an economic analysis of the greater benefits that energy efficiency measures for buildings can deliver, with a policy mix offering better incentives for the building sector to invest more resources to increase energy efficiency.
Under the government's proposed CPRS, the building sector is set to cut emissions by around 8 million tonnes per year, in response to higher energy costs. The Second Plank report demonstrates emissions could be reduced by up to an additional 52 million tonnes per year by 2030 by adopting three key policies to complement the 'cap and trade' scheme:
Specific regulatory measures are also needed, including enhancement of the Minimum Energy Performance Standards for appliances and setting higher standards for building design and energy efficiency in the National Building Code.
Download The second plank – building a low carbon economy with energy efficient buildings
Download Summary ASBEC @ work 2nd plank report
As industry and community leaders representing a cross section of the built environment we believe that the Federal Government’s Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme objectives can be enhanced through investment in energy efficiency measures in the building sector.
Building a Low Carbon Economy with Energy Efficient Buildings: Joint CEO Statement
Building Sector welcomes new policy focus on commercial energy efficiency
15 November 2007
Media Release
The building sector today welcomed Labor’s policy campaign announcement focussing on improving the energy efficiency of commercial buildings as a key component of Australia’s climate change response.
ASBEC President Caroline Pidcock said:
“It is very pleasing to see detailed measures announced for energy efficiency that pick up and build upon the findings of recent research commissioned by ASBEC’s Climate Change Task Force and conducted by the Centre for International Economics.
“This research, released in September 2007, showed that the building sector could cut its share of greenhouse gas emissions by more than a third, making it $ 38 billion easier to achieve at least a 60 per cent reduction in Australia’s emissions.”
The CIE report was endorsed by the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, Property Council of Australia, Planning Institute of Australia, Green Building Council of Australia, CIBSE, Clean Energy Council and Australian Conservation Foundation.
The building sector is responsible for almost a quarter, or 23 per cent, of Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions but there is huge potential to make our buildings more energy efficient. The results indicate greenhouse gas emissions from the built environment will more than double by 2050 if we do not address energy use in buildings. However, the report shows that electricity use in residential and commercial buildings can be cost effectively halved by 2030, and reduced by more than 70 per cent by 2050 through energy efficiency.
Energy efficiency gains delivered by the building sector can reduce the costs of GHG abatement (cost per tonne of abatement) for all sectors by nearly 14 per cent by 2050. This would be roughly equivalent to savings of $38 billion per annum to achieve the 60% reductions in GHG emissions identified by the Business Round Table among many others, bringing benefits to all Australians.”
Building Sector Steps Up to Climate Challenge: New Report
16 September 2007
Media Release
The building sector could cut its share of greenhouse gas emissions by more than a third, making it $ 38 billion easier to achieve at least a 60 per cent reduction in Australia’s emissions, says a new report commissioned by a cross section of building industry and environment groups.
The study conducted by the Centre for International Economics was commissioned by the Australian Sustainable Built Environment Council (ASBEC) climate change task force. Releasing a joint statement to endorse the research findings today are the Royal Australian Institute of Architects, Property Council of Australia, Planning Institute of Australia, Green Building Council of Australia, CIBSE, Clean Energy Council and Australian Conservation Foundation.