Schneider Electric submits response to the Australian government’s ‘issues paper’ on energy efficiency

Earlier this year, the Prime Minister established a task group on energy efficiency to advise options to improve Australia’s energy efficiency by 2020.

The task group, comprising key political ministers, secretaries and departments, and advised by senior representatives from various organisations and companies, released an ‘issues paper’ seeking input from the industry.

Schneider Electric is well placed to provide input to the issues paper as it is a significant provider of technologies and services that support industry and households in managing their energy demands and reducing their overall energy consumption.

Schneider Electric’s submission focused on some key topics including the need for higher emphasis on end-user efficiency which has the potential to deliver a three-fold saving at the source.

In addition, Schneider Electric recommended the following measures be implemented to allow a step-change improvement in Australia’s energy efficiency:

1. Business implementation of a framework for the systematic management of energy utilising the European publication EN16001:2009.
2. An incentive scheme, which improves decision-making towards energy-efficiency projects through the provision of information. This includes the assessment, prioritisation, implementation and verification of such projects. The information would be made available through the implementation of metering systems.
3. Creation of an energy-efficiency fund through the reallocation of 12-15% of the $42 billion investment for energy supply side infrastructure.
4. Increasing awareness of energy-efficiency opportunities, by obligating energy retailers to detail energy-efficiency measures in energy supply contracts.

Energy efficiency is Australia’s greatest opportunity to immediately reduce greenhouse gas pollution while saving money and improving national productivity.