Energy cost cuts on Energy Efficiency Expo agenda

The program for October’s Energy Efficiency Expo has been released by Reed Exhibitions Australia and the Energy Efficiency Council (EEC), with content developed to help business owners slash their energy costs.

The inaugural Energy Efficiency Expo Australia — to be held in Melbourne this October — will feature more than 70 expert speakers who will focus on energy management fundamentals for businesses, manufacturers, food processors, commercial building owners and local government.

“Over the past few years, the EEC has been on the ground providing clear guidance on what the energy transition means for Australian businesses,” said EEC CEO Luke Menzel. “But it’s clear that more is needed, and that’s where Energy Efficiency Expo comes in.

“Our partnership with Reed Exhibitions Australia on Energy Efficiency Expo will support Australian businesses that are acting to take control of their energy costs.

“Over the past few months we’ve worked with our program partner, Sustainability Victoria, to develop a practical, accessible conference program for business, focused on giving them the information and case studies they need to make smart energy management investments.”

The two-day event will start with a joint plenary session with All-Energy Australia, with The Hon Lily D’Ambrosio MP, Victoria’s Minister for Energy and Solar Homes, to open proceedings.

Keynote presentations will be made by:

Richard Adams Director — Innovation & Entrepreneurship Centre, NREL
Tim Finnigan Director — CSIRO Energy
Professor David Shipworth Energy and the Built Environment, UCL Energy Institute

Day 1 will begin with a panel discussion titled ‘Are we equipped as an industry to transition to a low carbon economy?’, chaired by Luke Menzel, and Day 2 with a panel discussion titled ‘A look at how the shift in energy supply will affect the design of the system’, chaired by Ivor Frischknecht.

“Energy Efficiency Expo is the prime opportunity for business, government and industry to learn how to better manage their energy usage and reduce costs,” said Robby Clark, Exhibition Director at Reed Exhibitions Australia.

Highlights

Conference highlights include presentations and discussion on dynamic energy landscapes; energy distribution; smart energy management and productivity; demand response; net zero office buildings; LED upgrades; and energy management.

From the speakers

“Energy Efficiency Expo is a timely event for businesses looking to manage their rapidly rising energy costs, saving energy through efficiency and ramping up the sophistication of their energy management strategy,” said Schneider Electric’s Lisa Zembrodt, who will speak in the panel session ‘Navigating a Dynamic Energy Landscape’.

“I look forward to sharing our 5 Steps to procuring cheaper, reliable and sustainable energy and sharing my passion for encouraging clients to be active not passive in their energy management.”

MAC Energy Efficiency Group Director Merrily Hunter, who will present the ‘LED upgrades complying with Australian Standards 1680’ said, “Upgrading LEDs is the most favoured activity under the existing energy efficiency schemes, comprising of more than 80% of the total energy saving certificates generated. Yet there is strong debate within the installation sector about whether these retrofit installations should comply with the Australian Lighting Standard AS/NZS1680 and whether this standard being design based is inappropriate and over-engineered for the activity,” Hunter said.

“To increase energy efficiency participation, it’s crucial to have discussions like these, which encourage better uptake through increased education and stronger compliance.

“At the Energy Efficiency Expo, I'll be sharing why my team and I have spent years breaking down various standards so that we can adapt them to retrofit environments, providing guidance on how installers can abide by rules rather than bypass them and why I am [a] strong advocate for all upgrades achieving the relevant requirements of AS1680. I will also address some of the concerns today that we hear from the ACPs and installers about the application of these rules.”

Jeff Renaud, Enel X Managing Director Asia and Oceania, will participate in the ‘Enabling demand response for households and SMEs’ session. “In today’s dynamic energy landscape, businesses need to understand how to better manage their operational energy demand in order to remain competitive. Many large businesses are already doing this, with the conversation only just beginning for most small to medium enterprises,” he said.

“At Enel X, we help businesses turn energy into a competitive advantage with demand response or power flexibility — the ability to intelligently alter when they use grid power.

“Since 2004 we’ve worked with Australian businesses to harness their inherent power flexibility to unlock new sources of revenue, reduce price risk and support their transition to renewable power,” Renaud said.

“At this year’s Energy Efficiency Expo, I look forward to discussing how businesses can unlock the most value for their operations by maximising their power flexibility, as part of their strategy for becoming more energy efficient.”

The exhibition

The exhibition floor will showcase the latest low-carbon and energy-cost-reducing solutions such as energy-efficient lighting, energy management equipment and software, energy-efficient HVAC, thermal performance products, microgrid technology and water heating efficiency technology.

Visitors will have the benefit of gaining access to the co-located All-Energy Australia and Waste Expo Australia. Together, the three industry events will combine to form a comprehensive opportunity for businesses to learn about renewable energy, energy efficiency and sustainable solutions.

Click here to register.

What: Energy Efficiency Expo

Where: Melbourne Convention & Exhibition Centre

When: 23–24 October 2019

Who: Business, government and industry looking for ready and practical measures to manage their rising energy costs.

Web: https://www.energyefficiencyexpo.com.au/en-gb.html

Image credit: ©stock.adobe.com/au/okalinichenko