The Victorian Government will drive the take up of energy efficient appliances in households and businesses through the doubling of Victoria’s energy efficiency target - the Energy Saver Incentive.
Launching Taking Action for Victoria’s Future – The Victorian Climate Change White Paper Action Plan, Mr Brumby said the new Energy Efficiency Target would cut Victoria’s greenhouse gas emissions by 5.4 million tonnes a year.
“Our Government is rising to the challenge of climate change, supporting new initiatives to cut emissions and creating a climate of opportunity,” Mr Brumby said.
“Our Government’s disciplined economic management means Victoria is in a position to lead the country in tackling climate change and locking in our sustainability for the future.
“Through doubling the Energy Saver Incentive, we will drive emission reductions in households and businesses of at least 5.4 million tonnes of greenhouse gases a year over the next 3 years.”
The Victorian Government introduced Australian first legislation in 2007 that required electricity retailers to improve the energy efficiency of their customers.
Energy efficiency companies provide free or subsidised services to households, such as switching to energy efficient light bulbs and shower heads, draught proofing homes or offering discounts for upgrading appliances like refrigerators to higher efficiency - in order to meet the emission reduction target.
The first stage of the scheme resulted in greenhouse emission reductions of 2.7 million tonnes per year – more than 8 million tonnes over the three years of the scheme. More than half a million households saw improvements to their homes and households.
“Under the Victorian Climate Change White Paper, the Victorian Government is expanding the scheme to apply to small and medium sized businesses and doubling the target to around 5.4 million tonnes of greenhouse emissions savings,” Mr Brumby said.
“This expansion could benefit up to 500,000 of the small to medium businesses that we have in Victoria. And saving energy means savings money.
“It is estimated the new scheme will generate $100 million in economic activity each year from new products, services and labour.
“The first stage of the scheme generated more than 1200 jobs for our growing green industries and we expect this to increase significantly over the next three years.
“Doubling the target will stimulate significant private sector investment in new, green industries which in turn will create more jobs for Victorians.”