Post on 26-May-2020
six steps to EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIPthe path TO ENERGY and water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
November 2015
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CONTENTS
SUBTITLE
26
29 Step1.Improvestandardsforresidentialbuildings
32 Step2.Facilitateaccessibleandaffordablefinance
35 Step3.Createacultureofefficiencyandprovide relevantinformation
35 Step4.Delivertargetedprogramsforthosemostin need
39 Step5.Upgradegovernmentbuildings
41 Step6.Driveimprovementsinnon-residential buildings
18 Germany
20 California
22 Vancouver
24 Asnapshotofotherinitiatives
07 Reducegreenhouseemissions
10 Easefinancialpressureonhouseholdsandbusiness
12 Create jobs
13 Enhancesocialequity
15 Improvecommunityhealthandwellbeing
16 Savewaterforourrivers
17 Avoidneedforadditionalsupply
six steps to energy and water efficiency leadership
Victoria can lead again on efficiency
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04 Thecaseforaction
what does leadership look like now?
Benefits of investing in energy and water efficiency
introduction
SUBTITLE
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50 Appendix1.Homeretrofitcostsandsavings
52 Appendix2.Efficiencyandjobs
Conclusion
Appendices
LeadAuthor:AnneMartinelli
Email:a.martinelli@environmentvictoria.org.au
Phone:(03)93418100
ContributingAuthors:NickRoberts,MarkWakeham
© Environment Victoria November 2015.
Level2,60LeicesterSt,CarltonVictoria3053
(03)93418100,admin@environmentvictoria.org.au
www.environmentvictoria.org.au
This report is printed on 100% recycled paper.
06 44 Geelong
46 Melbourne’snorthernsuburbs,LatrobeValley
case study: retrofitting for vulnerable regions
4 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy AND water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
The case for action Fromclimatechange,tothepressuresonmanufacturingandescalatingsocialinequality,Victoriafacesmultipleenvironmental,economicandsocialchallengesinthetwenty-firstcentury.
Buttherearealsoenormousopportunities–waystomakeourcitiesandinfrastructuremoreresilient,ourbusinessesmorecompetitiveandoursocietymoreequitable.
Oneofthemostsignificantopportunities,toooftenoverlooked,isimprovingenergyandwaterefficiency,whichcandeliver‘win-win-win’outcomesforVictoria’speople,environmentandeconomy.
Savingenergyandwatercutsthecostoflivinganddoingbusiness,particularlyinthefaceofrisingutilityprices.Efficienthomesaremorecomfortableandhealthiertolivein,especiallyinextremeweather.Investinginefficiencycreatesthousandsofjobsandpostponesoravoidstheneedforcostlyandenvironmentallydestructiveadditionalwaterorpowersupply.Andreducingconsumptioncutsgreenhousepollutionandsaveswaterforourrivers.
Sinceitselectionin2014,theAndrewsGovernmenthasshownencouragingsignsthatitunderstandsthecriticalrolethatefficiencycanplayinsecuringVictoria’seconomicandenvironmentalfuture.
TheVictoriangovernment’senergyefficiencyandproductivitystatementSaving Energy, Growing Jobs,thepromiseofamoredetailedstrategy,andtheannouncementofincreasedVictorianEnergyEfficiencyTargetsto2020arewelcomefirststeps.
However,afterfouryearsofinactionandbackwardstepsunderCoalitiongovernmentsatthestateandfederallevel,thereisnomoretimetowaste.ItisvitalthattheVictoriangovernmentnotonlysetsoutanambitiousagenda,butalsoaclearandresourcedpathforimplementation.
01introduction
5
01introduction
CentraltoanambitiousefficiencyagendaforVictoriaisacommitmenttotransformthequalityofourhomes.EnvironmentVictoria,alongsideourOneMillionHomesAlliancepartners,hasbeenworkingsince2009foracommitment“thatVictoria’shousingstockmeetsanaverage5Starequivalentand100litre/person/daystandardwithin10years”.
Thisreport,consistentwiththeAlliance’srecentlyreleased2025 Roadmap: Overcoming the Barriers to Energy and Water Efficient Housing,1 setsoutsixambitiousyetachievablestepsforachievingthehousingstockgoal,aswellasimprovingnon-residentialbuildingperformance.Thesixstepsare:
1. Improve standards for residential buildings
2. Facilitate accessible and affordable finance
3. Create a culture of efficiency and provide relevant information
4. Deliver targeted programs to those most in need
5. Upgrade government buildings
6. Drive improvements in non-residential buildings
Thesesixstepsaddressthekeybarrierswhichpreventmanyhomeowners,landlords,rentersandbusinessesfromtakingactiontoreducetheirenergyuse–primarilylackofincentive,upfrontcostsandlackofinformationrelevanttotheirhomeandsituation.
Introducingachievablestandardsforhomeownersandlandlordswillprovideincentive,whileimprovingaccesstoaffordablefinanceandrelevantinformationwillassistpropertyownerstomeetthosestandards.Importantly,clearstandardsalsohelpcreateastablepolicyenvironmentwhichencouragessustainedinvestmentandjobsgrowth,avoidingthe‘boom-bust’scenarioswhichhaveplaguedemergingindustriesinthepast(suchastheexperienceofthewatertankindustryduringthedrought).2
1 OneMillionHomesAlliance, www.onemillionhomes.org.au
2EnvironmentVictoria2009,Victoria – The Green Jobs State: Seizing the opportunities,p.27
6 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy AND water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
Thesesixstepsfocusprimarilyonusingenergyandwatermoreefficientlyincitiesthroughupgradingindividualbuildings.Wideropportunitiestoconservewaterbymakingourcities,townsandneighbourhoodsmore‘watersmart’andmakingmoreeffectiveuseofalternativesupplies(stormwater,greywaterandrainwater)areaddressedinaseparateforthcomingreportSix Steps to Water Leadership.
Beyondtheactionsoutlinedinthisreport,acomprehensiveVictorianpolicyagendashouldalsoencompassadvocacyfor,andcontributionto,nationalprioritiessuchas:
• Ambitiousnationalgreenhouseemissionsreductiontargetsandacarbonpricingscheme
• EstablishmentofaNationalEnergySavingsInitiativewhichhasstalledsince2012
• Nationalenergymarketreform,includingchangetotariffstructureswhichundermineincentivesforefficiency
• ReinstatementofthefederalEnergyEfficiencyOpportunitiesProgramwhichdroveenergyefficiencyimprovementsinlargeenergy-usingbusinessesnationally
• Bestpracticevehicleemissionsstandards
• Bestpracticenationalefficiencystandardsforappliances
• EnhancedNABERSEnergyratingandCommercialBuildingDisclosureprograms.
MakingbetterandsmarteruseofpreciousenergyandwaterresourcesrepresentsoneofVictoria’sbiggestuntappedopportunitiesandiscriticaltoourfuture.Butlikeanythingworthwhile,it’snotsimple.Realactionwillrequireleadership,investmentandwell-designedpoliciesthatcreateincentivesforactionandinvestmentbyotherplayers.
TheAndrewsGovernment’sSaving Energy, Growing Jobsstatementhasarticulatedavisionfor“amoreefficient,productiveandresilientstate”.It’stimefortheVictoriangovernmenttoturnthispromiseintoactionwithanambitiousandresourcedplantomakeVictoriamuchmoreenergyandwaterefficient.
CHAPTER 01INTRODUCTION
The International Energy Agency recently identified improving energy efficiency as the number one global action to achieve peak emissions by 2020.
Decadesofdelayinrespondingeffectivelytoclimatechangehasledustothepointwherewemayalreadybe‘lockedin’totwodegreesofwarmingbasedongreenhouseemissionsalreadyintheatmosphere.Furthermore,thereisgrowingconcernthattwodegreesdoesnotrepresentasafe‘cap’butthatirreversibletippingpointsarealreadyoccurring.Victoria,liketherestoftheworld,facesanurgenttasktoreduceemissionstozeroandtransitiontorenewableenergyassoonaspossible.
Nearly70percentofVictoria’semissionscomefromthestationaryenergysector–theelectricityandgasweuseinourhomes,businessesandindustry.Over80percentofVictoria’selectricityisgeneratedbyburningbrowncoal, whileVictorianhouseholdsusefarmoregasthanhouseholdsinotherstates,mainlyduetowinterheating.3
Reduce greenhouse emissions
02Benefits of investing in energy and water efficiency
3DepartmentofStateDevelopment,BusinessandInnovation2014,Victoria’s Energy Statement; ConsumerUtilitiesAdvocacyCentre2014,Our Gas Challenge.
4DepartmentofSustainabilityandEnvironment2012,Greenhouse Gas Inventory.
Figure 1. Victoria’sgreenhousegasemissionsbysector.4
7
CHAPTER 02Benefits of investing in energy and water efficiency
However,theefficiencyofductedgasheatingsystemscanbeaslowas50percent–meaningthathalfofthecostlyandpollutinggasweburnisimmediatelywasted.5Cuttingwastedenergybyimprovingtheefficiencyofourbuildingsisthereforeoneofthemosteffectivewaystoreduceoverallemissions.TheInternationalEnergyAgencyrecentlyidentifiedimprovingenergyefficiencyasthenumberoneglobalactiontoachievepeakemissionsby2020andsignificantdeclinesby2030.InVictoria’scase,thebenefitofimprovingenergyefficiencyislikelytobeevengreaterthanindicatedinFigure2,duetotheparticularlyhighemissionsintensityofthestate’sbrowncoalelectricitygeneration.
Figure 2. Relativecontributionofmeasurestoreduceemissions,globally.6
8 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy and water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
5 Forcey,T.2015,Switching Off Gas,MelbourneEnergyInstitute.
6InternationalEnergyAgency2015,World Energy Outlook: Special report on energy and climate change,www.iea.org
9
7ClimateWorks2010,Low Carbon Growth Plan for Australia,www.climateworksaustralia.org/project/national-projects/low-carbon-growth-plan-australia
8 Ibid.
Figure 3. Marginalabatementcostcurve,Australia.8
A Marginal Abatement Cost Curve (MACC) isorderedlefttorightfromlowestcosttohighestcostopportunities.Thoseappearingbelowthehorizontalaxisofferthepotentialforfinancialsavings,whilethoseabovetheaxisareexpected to come at a net cost. See exampleatFigure3below.
Closertohome,ClimateWorks’Low Carbon Growth Plan provides anestimateofthelowestcostopportunitiestoachievea25percentreductioninAustralia’semissionsbelow2000levelsby2020.TheMarginalAbatementCostCurve(MACC)inFigure3showsthatimprovingbuildingefficiencyoffersemissionsreductionsatzerotonegativecostbecauseefficiencyinvestmentsgeneratecost-savingsbyreducingwaste.7
TheVictoriangovernmentisintheprocessofsettinganewrenewableenergytarget,whichneedstobesignificantlyhigherthanthecurrent20percenttargetifVictoriaistocutgreenhousepollutionfromitselectricitysupplyatthespeedrequired.Improvingefficiencyandcuttingelectricitydemand,particularlypeakdemand,wouldhelpachieveanambitioustargetfasterandatlowercost.
10 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy AND water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
Ease financial pressure on households and businessVictoria’seasyaccesstobrowncoalandnaturalgashasmadeefficiencyalowpriorityformanyhouseholdsandbusinessestodate.However,rapidpricerisesinrecentyearsarestartingtochangethat.Melbourneelectricitypricesroseby84percentbetween2007and2012,9whilegaspriceshaverisen66percentsince2008andarepredictedtocontinuetorise.10
DespitehavingalowerpopulationthanNSW,Victoriahasthehighestresidentialenergyconsumptionofanystate,reflectingourcoolerclimateandgreaterrelianceonheatingcomparedwithotherstates(seeFigure4).
TheaverageVictorianhouseholdspendsaround$2800onhomeenergy(electricityandgas)billseveryyear,witharoundone-thirdofthosecostsgoingonspaceheating(predominantlygas)alone.Aspricesrise,reducingconsumptionisanobviousandcost-effectivewaytomanagecosts.
ThequalityofVictoria’sresidentialbuildingstockisgenerallylow,withhomesbuiltpriorto2005(when5Starbuildingstandardswereintroduced)performingtoanaverageofonly1.8Stars.11
Whileeveryhouseisdifferent,mostpre-2005homeswillseeasignificantimprovementinperformancefromspendinglessthan$5000ontheinstallationorimprovementofbasicmeasuressuchasdraught-sealing,insulation,window-shading,efficientlightingandlow-flowshowerheadsandtaps.Anefficienthomecancutitsenergycostsby40
CHAPTER 02Benefits of investing in energy and water efficiency
Figure 4.Totalresidentialenergyconsumptionbystatefrom1990to2010.12
An efficient home can cut its energy costs by 40 percent, translating into annual savings of up to $1000 for the average Victorian household.
9AustralianBureauofStatistics2012,Australian Social Trends, Household Energy Use and Costs, Publication 4102.0.
10ConsumerUtilitiesAdvocacyCentre2014,Our Gas Challenge.
11SustainabilityVictoria2014,Household Energy Report,Fig.1.
12AdaptedfromDepartmentofEnvironment,Water,HeritageandArts2008,Energy Use Residential Sector 1986-2020,Table4,p.31.
11
percent,translatingintoannualsavingsofupto$1000fortheaverageVictorianhousehold(SeeAppendix1).
Furthermore,asthecostofrenewableenergyhasdeclinedwhilegaspriceshaveriseninrecentyears,goinggas-freeandmakinghomes‘zeronetemissions’throughacombinationofefficiencyandrenewableenergyisnowacost-effectiveoption.13Whereanefficientreversecycleair-conditionerisalreadyinplace,usingthisunitinsteadofgasforheatingcansaveVictorianhomes$658ayear.14
Therearealsosignificantopportunitiesforimprovingbusinessenergyefficiency.Commercialbuildingstypicallyhavelimitednaturallight,inefficientartificiallightingandpoorventilation.Inefficientelectricalappliancesalsogeneratelargeinternalheatloads,whichinturnmeanlargeamountsofartificialcoolingarerequiredtomaintaincomfort.15
HVAC(heating,ventilation,air-conditioning)systemsaccountforthemajorityofenergycostsinatypicalcommercialbuilding,andanefficientsystemcancutthesecostsby40percent.Movingtoasustainablelightingsystemthatmaximisestheuseofnaturallightcancutlightingcostsbyasmuchas80percent.16Significantopportunitieswithlowcapitalrequirementsandshortpaybackperiodsalsolieinimprovingcommercialbuildingenergymanagementsystems,suchasadjustingbuildingsystemcontrolsandoperations,andupgradingsmallappliances.17
Figure 5. AverageenergycostsinVictorianhouseholds.18
Thetermscarbon zero,carbon neutral,zero energy or zero emissionapplytobuildingsthatuserenewableenergysourcesonsitetogenerateenergyfortheiroperation,sothatoverayearthenetamountofenergygeneratedonsiteequalsthenetamountofenergyrequiredbythebuilding.
13BeyondZeroEmissions2013,Zero Carbon Australia Buildings Plan.
14Forcey,T.2015,Switching Off Gas,MelbourneEnergyInstitute.
15BeyondZeroEmissions2013,Zero Carbon Australia Buildings Plan.
16SustainabilityVictoria,www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/services-and-advice/business/resource-efficient-buildings/energy-efficient-office-buildings
17ClimateWorks2010,Commercial buildings emissions reduction opportunities.
18AdaptedfromSustainabilityVictoria2014,Household Energy Report,Fig.1.
12 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy AND water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
19BISShrapnel2014,The economic impact of LNG exports on manufacturing and the economy.
20EnvironmentVictoria2009,Victoria – The Green Jobs State: Seizing the opportunities.
21EnergyEfficiencyCertificateCreatorsAssociation,www.eecca.org.au
Upgrading Victoria’s housing stock to an average 5 star standard by 2025 would support an estimated 13,000 jobs (gross) over ten years and 8500 ongoing jobs.
CREATE JOBS Asthemanufacturingsectorandcarindustrydecline,Victoriawillcontinuetobehithardbyjoblosses.Predictedgaspricerises,drivenbytheexpansionofAustralia’sexportgasindustry,arealsoexpectedtodrivesignificantjoblossesingas-intensivemanufacturing,muchofwhichislocatedinVictoria.19
VictoriaalsofacesachallengetocreateneweconomicandemploymentopportunitiesintheLatrobeValley,toensurethetransitionawayfromcoaltowardsrenewableenergyismanagedinanorderlyandequitableway.TheVictoriangovernmenthasannouncedacommitmenttoa$20millionNewEnergyJobsFundandidentifiedenergyefficiencyasaprimeopportunityforjobsgrowth.
UpgradingVictoria’shousingstocktoanaverage5Starstandardby2025,throughamixofdirectinvestment,improvedstandards,incentivesandinformation(asoutlinedinthesixstepslaterinthisreport)wouldstimulateanestimated$9.6billionofpublicandprivateinvestmentover10years.Thiswouldsupportanestimated13,000jobs(gross)overtenyearsand8500ongoingjobs(seeAppendix2).
Jobsinenergyefficiencytendtobeinsmalltomediumsizedbusinessesandthecommunitysectorandcoverarangeoflowtosemi-skilledoccupationsintrades,servicesandmanufacturing.20TheVictorianEnergyEfficiencyTargetschemeisestimatedtobesupportingatleast2000Victorianjobsandthereisscopetobuildonthis.21
CHAPTER 02Benefits of investing in energy and water efficiency
Right: Goodqualitydraught-proofingisoneofthemosteffectivewaystosaveenergyandmoneyinVictoria’sclimate.
13
Thesefiguresarefor‘gross’jobscreated,ameasurewhichdoesnotmakeadistinctionbetweenjobsdrawnfromelsewhereintheeconomyandjobswhichareadditionaltobusinessasusual.However,astheenergyefficiencysectorisrelativelymorejobs-intensivethantheeconomy-wideaverage,andsupportsjobsacrossarangeofskilllevels,itcanbeassumedthatinvestmentinanefficiencyprogramwouldcreatenewopportunities,particularlyforlow-skilledanddisadvantagedworkers,anddrawunemployedworkersintotheworkforce.
Enhance social equityTheadverseimpactsofpoorqualityhousingarenotspreadevenlyacrossourcommunity.Low-incomeanddisadvantagedhouseholdsaremorelikelytoliveinpoorqualityhomes,relyoninefficientappliancesandspendagreaterproportionoftheirdisposableincomeonenergy.
Consequently,manylow-incomehouseholdsareeitherstrugglingtopaytheirbillsaspricescontinuetorise,rationingtheirenergyuse,orcuttingexpenditureonotheressentialssuchasfood.22
TheimpactofenergyunaffordabilityformanyVictorianhouseholdscanbeseeninthealarmingriseindisconnectionrates–anincreaseof359percentforelectricityand239percentforgassince2008-09.23Atthesametime,theproportionofenergycustomersparticipatinginretailerhardshipprogramshasrisen35percent,andaveragedebtonentrytotheprogramshasrisenbymorethan50percentsince2009.Concessionsforeligiblecustomersarenotsucceedinginkeepingbillsaffordable,whilemanynon-concessionhouseholdsarealsoexperiencinghardship
Left:Peopleonloworfixedincomesmissoutonthebenefitsofefficiencybecausetheycan’taffordtheupfrontcostsofhomeimprovementsthatcutwasteandsavemoney.
Low-income and disadvantaged households are more likely to live in poor quality homes, rely on inefficient appliances and spend a greater proportion of their disposable income on energy.
22Chester,L.2013,The impacts and consequences for low-income Australian households of rising energy prices,UniversityofSydney;AustralianCouncilofSocialService2013,Energy Efficiency and People on Low Incomes.
23ConsumerActionLawCentre2015,Heat or Eat.
14 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy AND water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
CHAPTER 02Benefits of investing in energy and water efficiency
(oftenlargefamilieswithlargemortgagesandhighusage).24
Furthermore,arecentanalysisbyAGLoftheirhardshipcustomersfoundthatadisproportionatelyhighnumberliveinpublicorprivaterentalhousing.Forty-sevenpercentwererenters,comparedwiththeVictoria-widerateofabout28percentrenters(seeTable1).25Tenantstypicallyhavefeweroptionsthanhomeownersforreducingconsumptionbecausetheyfacea‘splitincentive’:landlordshavelittlereasontoinvestinbuildingimprovementsorefficientfixedappliancesbecausetenantsareresponsibleforpayingutilitybills.
BecauseVictoria’sutilitiesconcessionframeworkispercentage-based,risingpricesandbillsinevitablydriveincreasesinthegovernment’sconcessionsbudget.Thepreviousgovernmentrespondedtothesebudgetrisksbyintroducingacaponconcessionpaymentswhichitestimatedwouldsave$9millionin2013-14.However,thiscapposessignificantriskstothefairnessandeffectivenessofVictoria’sconcessionssystem.26
Incontrast,theOneMillionHomesAlliance(comprisedofVictoria’sleadingconsumer,socialjusticeandenvironmentorganisations)estimatesthataddressingtherootcauseofrisingbudgetdemandsby
24VictorianCouncilofSocialService2015,Submission to Inquiry into Financial Hardship Programs of Energy Retailers,Table1.p.6.
25http://aglblog.com.au/2015/09/effective-support-for-vulnerable-households-closing-the-gap-between-capacity-to-pay-and-cost-of-consumption-part-1/
26ConsumerActionLawCentre2013, Winners and Losers.
27AlternativeTechnologyAssociationfortheOneMillionHomesAlliance2012,2.5 billion reasons to invest in efficiency.
retrofittingthehomesofonemillionlow-incomehouseholdswouldsavethegovernment’sconcessionsbudget$2.5billionover20years.27
Home tenure (Victoria)
Owner–fullyowned/mortgage
Renter–Privatehousing
Renter–Public/Communityhousing
Proportion of households
52%(29%/23%)
35%
12%
Table 1.AGLhardshipprogramclientsreceivingKildonanUnitingCarehomeaudits.
15
New Zealand’s home insulation program delivered net benefits of $1.2 billion, largely through savings in hospitalisation costs and reduced mortality rates for vulnerable groups.
Improve community health and wellbeing Climatechangepresentsatwinchallenge.Onechallengeistomitigateitscausebyreducingemissions,andtheotheristoadapttotheimpactsofmorefrequentandsevereweathereventssuchasdroughtsandheatwaves.
Forexample,theheatwaveinsoutheastAustraliainlateJanuary2009isestimatedtohavecaused374excessdeaths,28whilearecentinternationalstudyconcludedthatmorepeoplediefromtheeffectsofchroniccoldinAustraliathaninSweden.29
Thepoorqualityofourhousingisasignificantcontributortotheseweather-relatedadversehealthimpacts,whichdisproportionatelyaffectlow-incomeanddisadvantagedhouseholds.30Low-incomeanddisadvantagedhouseholdsaremorelikelytoliveinmoreheat-vulnerableareasandtosufferfromchronichealthconditions,whichnotonlycontributetohigherenergyusagebutcanbeexacerbatedbyunhealthylivingconditions.31
Experienceinothercountrieshasshownapositiverelationshipbetweenbuildingqualityandhealthoutcomes.NewZealand’shomeinsulationprogram,forexample,deliverednetbenefitsof$1.2billion,largelythroughsavingsinhospitalisationcostsandreducedmortalityratesforvulnerablegroups.32
Morefrequentandsevereheatwavesunderclimatechangewillincreasehealthrisksforpeoplelivinginpoorqualityhomes,particularlytheelderlyandthosewithchronichealthconditions.
28Hennessy,K.January2014,‘Explainer-whatareheatwaves?’,CSIRO,https://blogs.csiro.au/climate-response/stories/explainer-heatwaves-in-australia/
29Barnett,A.2015,‘Coldweatherisabiggerkillerthanheat–here’swhy’,TheConversation,https://theconversation.com/cold-weather-is-a-bigger-killer-than-extreme-heat-heres-why-42252
30Barnett,G.et.al.2013,Pathways to climate adapted and healthy low-income housing,NationalClimateAdaptationResearchFacility,GoldCoast.
31ACOSS2013;Barnett,G.et.al.2013.
32http://sustainablecities.org.nz/2012/05/
16 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy AND water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
CHAPTER 02Benefits of investing in energy and water efficiency
Save water for our riversThesevere1997-2009droughtbroughtMelbourneandVictoriatothebrinkofawatercrisis.ThepreviousLaborgovernment’sresponseoftightwaterrestrictionsandpubliceducationeffectivelyshiftedpublicattitudesinfavourofconservationandachievedsignificantwater-savingoutcomes.
However,thecombinedeffectoftheendofthedroughtandtheconstructionoftheWonthaggidesalinationplantmayhavelessenedpublicconcernaboutwateruseefficiency.Asaresult,residentialwateruseisagainontherise–albeitstillsignificantlylowerthanpriortothedrought.ResidentialwateruseinMelbournein2013-14was160litres/person/day,upfromalowof147litres/person/dayin2010-11.33
ThevastmajorityofMelbourne’swatercomesfromourrivers.Thisextractionisleavingmanyofourriverecosystemstryingtogetbyonhalfthewaterwhichwouldnaturallybethere.
Victoriahasjustrecordeditslowestaveragewinterrainfallsince2006,andMelbourne’swaterstoragesarenowat74percentcomparedwith80percentatthesametimelastyear.34Continueddryconditions
33MelbourneWaterDecember2014,‘WaterOutlookforMelbourne’.
34www.melbournewater.com.au/waterdatawaterstorages
Reducing demand through efficiency can help avoid additional gas, electricity or water supply, which can be costly and environmentally destructive.
Right: Onaverage,halftheYarraRiver’sflowsareextractedforMelbourne,leavingtheriverinpoorhealth.
17
35Forcey,T.2015,Switching Off Gas,MelbourneEnergyInstitute,p.40.
36Ibid,Fig.20.
combinedwithourgrowingpopulationwillonlyworsenthepressureonourpreciousriversandwetlands,unlesswemaintainastrongfocusonreducingconsumptionthroughefficiency.
Avoid need for additional supplyReducingdemandthroughefficiencycanhelptoavoidtheneedforinvestmentinadditionalgas,electricityorwatersupply,whichcanbecostlyandenvironmentallydestructive.
Forexample,recentfindingsbytheMelbourneEnergyInstitutethatachievableenergysavingsinthebuildingssectoraremorethanenoughtomeetfutureindustrialgasneedsunderminesthecasefordevelopmentofanenvironmentallyriskyunconventionalgasindustryinVictoria(seeFigure6below).35
Efficiencyalsomoderatespeakelectricitydemand,whichhelpsavoidexpensiveinvestmentingridinfrastructurethathasbeenakeydriverofpricerisesinrecentyears.
Andfailingtomaintainafocusonwaterefficiencyrisksgreaterfuturerelianceonexpensiveandenergy-intensivedesalination–withconsequentimpactsonhouseholdwaterbillsandgreenhouseemissions.
Figure 6.Demandinthelargerindustrialsectorcomparedwithgas‘saved’inthecommercial,residentialandsmallerindustrialsector(MEIScenario).36
18 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy AND water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
WhileVictoriahasmaderelativelyslowprogress,therestoftheworldhasbeenreapingtheenvironmentalandeconomicrewardsofimprovedefficiency.
GermanyKey points:
New buildings to be climate neutral by 2020, and entire building stock to reduce energy use by 80 percent by 2050
Germany’s state development bank’s building renovation loan program has supported the efficiency refurbishment or construction of more than 3.8 million homes and 2100 municipal buildings since 2007
Germanyprovidesaleadingexampleofanefficiencyframeworkthatmatchesclearandambitiouspolicyobjectiveswiththeprovisionofaffordablefinancetodriveimplementation.TheAmericanCouncilforanEnergyEfficientEconomy(ACEEE)namedGermanynumberoneintheworldforenergyefficiencyinits2014Scorecard,citingthecountry’scomprehensiveenergystrategy,buildingcodes,retrofitpoliciesandtaxcreditandloanprograms.37
TheGermangovernmenthassetagoalofreducingenergyconsumptionby20percentby2020(comparedto2008)and50percentby2050.Germanyaimstomakenewbuildingscarbonneutralby2020,andtoreduceenergyconsumptionacrossitsentirebuildingstockby80percentby2050.
TheNational Energy Efficiency Action Planoutlinesmeasuresforimplementation,guidedbytheprinciples‘Supplyinformation’,‘Providesupport’and‘Demandaction’.
AkeymechanismfordrivingefficiencyupgradesunderthePlanistheCO2BuildingRenovationProgramme,whichprovidesfundingto37http://cleantechnica.com/2014/07/21/germany-1-
world-energy-efficiency/
03WHAT DOES LEADERSHIP LOOK LIKE NOW?
Germany’s leading efficiency framework matches ambitious policy objectives with affordable finance to drive implementation.
19
38www.gtai.de/GTAI/Navigation/EN/Meta/Press/press-releases,t=germany-tops-world-energy-efficiency-ranking,did=1051702.html
39GermanFederalMinistryforEconomicAffairsandEnergy,CO2BuildingRenovation,www.bmwi.de/EN/Topics/Energy/Buildings/co2buildingrenovation
theGermandevelopmentbankKfW’sEnergy-EfficientBuildingandRefurbishmentProgram.Thisallowsittoofferverylowinterestratesof1-2percenttofundconstructionofefficientnewhomesandtoretrofitexistingbuildings.
TheGermangovernmentcurrentlyprovidesfundingtotheprogramofabout1.8billioneurosperyear,withafurther200millioneurosexpectedtobeaddedfrom2016,bringingtotalannualfundingtotwobillioneuros.Morethan187billioneuroshavebeeninvestedinbuildingupgradessince2007,with34billioneurosofprivateinvestmentin2013alone.38
Theprogramhassupportedtheefficiencyrefurbishmentandconstructionofmorethan3.8millionhomes,andmorethan2100buildingsusedbylocalauthoritiesandwelfareinstitutions–suchasofficebuildings,schoolsanddaycarecentres.
TheActionPlanalsoobligeslarge-scaleenterprisestoconductenergyauditsandsetsstandardsfornewinstallationsandbuildings.Inupto500energy-efficiencynetworks,enterpriseswillalsobeexpectedtodefinejointefficiencytargetsthemselvesandimplementtheseasagroup.Subsidiesofupto30percentarealsoavailableforSMEstoimproveefficiencythroughtechnologyandequipmentupgrades.39
The Kranichstein Passive House in Darmstadt (pictured below) was built in 1990, and was Europe’s first inhabited multi-family house to achieve a documented heating energy consumption of below 12 kWhm2 per year.
20 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy AND water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
CaliforniaKey points:
All new residential buildings to be zero net energy by 2020, and all new commercial buildings to be zero net energy by 2030
50 percent increase in energy efficiency of existing buildings by 2030
More than $65 million in household bill savings and 1.5 million jobs created since the 1970s
Californiahasbeenaleaderinbuildingefficiencystandards,financingandretrofitprogramssincethe1970s.The2008California Long-Term Energy Efficiency Strategic Plansetanumberofgoals,includingthatallnewresidentialbuildingsbezeronetenergyby2020,andallnewcommercialbuildingsbezeronetenergyby2030.Furthermore,theplanofferedalleligiblelow-incomecustomerstheopportunitytoparticipateinenergyefficiencyprogramsby2020.40
California’sefficiencygoalshaverecentlybeenreiteratedbyGovernorBrowninhisJanuary2015inaugurationspeech,inwhichhesetagoaltodoubletheefficiencyofCalifornia’sbuildingsby2030andtransitiontocleanerfuelsforspaceandwaterheating.ThesegoalshavenowbeenenshrinedinlegislationwiththepassingofalandmarkclimatebillpackageinOctober2015.41
TheExisting Buildings Energy Efficiency Action Planwasreleasedin2015withaparticularfocusonaddressingthebarrierstoupgradingolderbuildingsandcreatingtheconditionsforscalingupefficiencyupgrades.42
CaliforniahasalsopioneeredtheuseofPropertyAssessedCleanEnergy(PACE)financingwhichallowslocalgovernmentstoofferloansforefficiencyupgrades.Loanpaymentstaketheformofanassessmentaddedtothepropertytaxonthebuilding,typicallywitha20-yearpayoffperiod.43
In2012,CalifornialaunchedtheUS’slargestPACEprogram–CaliforniaFIRST–offeringloanstoownersofoffice,multi-familyresidential,retail,industrialandagriculturepropertiesin14countiesand126cities.Eligibleimprovementsincludeinsulation,lighting,HVACsystems,onsiterenewableenergyandwater-savingupgradessuchaslow-flowplumbingfixturesandgreywatersystems.
Thetermscarbon zero,carbon neutral,zero energy or zero emissionapplytobuildingsthatuserenewableenergysourcesonsitetogenerateenergyfortheiroperation,sothatoverayearthenetamountofenergygeneratedonsiteequalsthenetamountofenergyrequiredbythebuilding.
Importantly, and most relevant to Australia, the Californian approach targets water as well as energy use.
CHAPTER 03WHAT DOES LEADERSHIP LOOK LIKE NOW?
40CaliforniaPublicUtilitiesCommission2008,California Long-Term Energy Efficiency Strategic Plan,www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUC/energy/Energy+Efficiency/eesp/
41http://focus.senate.ca.gov/climate
42www.energy.ca.gov/ab758/documents/
43https://californiafirst.org/
21
44www.nrdc.org/energy/ca-efficiency-success-story.asp
Importantly,andunlikemostotherbuildingefficiencyplansaroundtheworld,theCalifornianapproachtargetswateraswellasenergyuse.ThisreflectsthecriticalimportanceofwatertoCalifornia,whichiscurrentlyinthegripofaseveredrought,andwhich,likeAustralia,facessignificantriskstowatersecurityinthehotteranddrierfuturepredictedunderclimatechange.
Todate,California’sbipartisancommitmenttoefficiencyhassavedhouseholdsmorethanUS$65billion,helpedlowerresidentialelectricitybillsto25percentbelowthenationalaverage,andledtothecreationof1.5millionfull-time-equivalentjobssincethe1970s.44
California Governor Jerry Brown (pictured below) has just signed landmark legislation to combat climate change by setting targets to increase the state’s renewable electricity use to 50 percent and double energy efficiency in existing buildings by 2030.
22 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy AND water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
VancouverKey points:
Emissions from existing buildings to be reduced by 20 percent by 2020, and all new buildings to be zero net emissions by 2020
80 percent of priority actions have been achieved, including a 7 percent decrease in community greenhouse gases since 2007
Vancouver,Canada,hassetagoalofbecomingthe“greenestcityintheworldby2020”andhasdevelopeditsGreenest City 2020 Action Plan(GCAP)toseta“coursetowardrealizingahealthy,prosperousandresilientfutureforourcity”.45
Basedonextensivecommunityconsultation,theGCAPsetsgoalstoreducecity-widegreenhouseemissionsby33percentby2020andtodoublethenumberof‘greenjobs’over2010levelsby2020.
Emissionsfromexistingbuildingsaretobereducedby20percentby2020,andallnewbuildingstobezeronetemissionsby2020.
TheGCAP andsubsequentEnergy Retrofit Strategy for Existing Buildings outlinedetailedcommitmentstoachievethesegoals,includingquantitativebaselineindicatorsagainstwhichprogresscanbemeasured.TheRetrofitStrategyspecificallyfocusesonthekeybarrierspreventingstakeholdersfromtakingactioninfourprioritysectors–detachedhouses,multi-unitresidentialbuildings,commercialandindustry–andtheopportunitiesforgovernmentinterventiontodriveinvestment.46
Specificactionstargetedatresidentialbuildingsinclude:
• Improveregulationsthroughinclusionofenergyefficiencyrequirementsinbuildingbylaws
• Supportvoluntaryactionthroughrebatesandincentives,andactivemarketingtoraiseawarenessthattheyareavailable
• PartnerwithenergyretailersandLandlordBC(BritishColumbia’speakbodyrepresentingrentalpropertymanagers)toexpandtheGreenLandlordprogram,evaluateitseffectivenessandstrengthenasneeded.47
CHAPTER 03WHAT DOES LEADERSHIP LOOK LIKE NOW?
45CityofGreaterVancouver2012,Greenest City 2020 Action Plan,p.5.
46http://vancouver.ca/green-vancouver/greenest-city-action-plan.aspx
47http://vancouver.ca/home-property-development/bank-and-utilities-incentives.aspx
TheCityhasjustpublishedanimplementationupdatewhichshows80percentoftheoriginalpriorityactionssetin2011havebeenachieved,includingasevenpercentdecreaseincommunitygreenhousegasessince 2007.48
23
Vancouver’s Greenest City 2020 Action Plan was developed through extensive community consultation, such as the greenest city camp.
48http://vancouver.ca/files/cov/greenest-city-action-plan-implementation-update-2014-2015.pdf
24 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy and water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
A snapshot of other initiativesEuropean UnionTheEuropeanUnion’sEurope 2020 Strategysetatargetof20percentenergysavings(onbusinessasusual)by2020,whichhassincebeenincreasedto27percentorgreaterby2030.49Keyachievementstodateinclude:
• Newbuildingsconsumehalftheenergytheydidinthe1980s
• EnergyintensityinEUindustrydecreasedbyalmost19percentbetween2001and2011
• Moreefficientappliancesareexpectedtosaveconsumers€100billionannually–about€465perhousehold–ontheirenergybillsby2020.50
New ZealandNewZealand’sHeatSmartandHealthyHomesinsulationandefficientheatingprogramshavereached260,000homes(around19percentoftotalhousingstock),includingnearly118,000low-incomehouseholdssince2009.ArecentevaluationoftheHeatSmartprogramfounditdeliverednetbenefitsof$1.2billionandabenefitcostratioofapproximately4.3to1–drivenlargelybysavingsinhospitalisationcostsandreducedmortalityratesforvulnerablegroups.51
TheWellingtonSmartBuildingsChallenge,launchedinSeptember2015,requiresparticipatingcommercialpropertyownerstocommittoatargetofatleasta10percentreductioninbuildingenergyuseandattainmentofaNABERSNZratingwithin12monthsofjoiningtheprogram,aswellasyear-on-yearperformanceimprovementsbeyondthatpoint.52
CHAPTER 03WHAT DOES LEADERSHIP LOOK LIKE NOW?
49http://ec.europa.eu/europe2020/europe-2020-in-a-nutshell/index_en.htm
50http://ec.europa.eu/energy/en/topics/energy-efficiency
51http://sustainablecities.org.nz/2012/05/evaluation-of-the-warm-up-new-zealand-heat-smart-programme/
52www.thefifthestate.com.au/property/commercial/nz-wellington-commercial-property-owners-making-buildings-smarter/78033
53www.nsw.gov.au/media-releases-premier/helping-vulnerable-families-energy-bills
25
Homeowners
New South WalesTheNewSouthWalesgovernmenthasrecentlycommitted$61.5millionforanenergyefficiencyprogram,withafocusonassistanceforlow-incomehouseholdstopurchaseefficientappliances.$16millionhasalsobeenallocatedtoassistingbusinesstoinvestinefficiency.53
TheEnergy Efficiency Action PlanbuildsontheearlierHomePowerSavingsProgram,whichbythetimeitconcludedin2014hadreachedapproximately225,000households(nearly59percentoftheminregionalareas)andincluded30,000homeswhereEnglishisasecondlanguage.Theprogramhasachievedestimatedannualbillsavingsof$36million,whileparticipatinghouseholdsareusing10percentlesspowerperyear.54
•Lackofincentive,lowpriority
•Lackoftimely,trustedinformation
•Upfrontcosthurdles,lackofaffordablefinance
Renters (public and private) Business
•Splitincentive:Landlordsresponsibleforupgradesbuttenantspaybills
•Lackofinformationaboutbehaviourimpactsonusage
•Accesstocapital
•Lackofknowledge,information
•Lackofincentive,lowpriority
•Insufficientscale
Common features of best practice approaches
Set an ambitious goalEstablishspecific,time-basedobjectives,commensuratewiththesizeandurgencyoftheproblem.
Address barriers to actionTargetgovernmentinterventionstothebarrierswhichpreventpeoplefromtakingaction,soastoencouragecomplementaryinvestmentfromarangeofsourcesandmaximisetheimpactofgovernmentinvestment.
Work in partnership Buildontheexperience,expertiseandrelationshipswithinlocalgovernment,thecommunitysectorandretrofitindustrytodelivereffectiveprogramsatscale.
54www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/energyefficiencyindustry/140053hpspintev.pdf
26 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy AND water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
Victoria can lead again on efficiencyUnderthepreviousLaborgovernment,VictorialedAustraliabybeingthefirststatetointroduce:
• Mandatoryenergyefficiencytargetforelectricityretailers,implementedthroughtheVictorianEnergyEfficiencyTarget(EnergySaverIncentiveScheme)
• Amandatoryenergy,waterandwasteresourceefficiencyprogramforthebiggestcommercialenergyandwaterusers–EnvironmentandResourceEfficiencyPlans(EREP)
• A5StarEnergyEfficiencyStandardfornewhomes,subsequentlyextendedtoallmajorrenovationsandincreasedtoa6Starstandardin 2011.
The2010VictorianClimate Change White Paperalsoincludedacommitmentto“agoalofimprovingtheenergyefficiencyofVictoria’sexistinghousingstocktoanaverage5Starequivalentenergyratingby2020”.55
However,undertheCoalitiongovernmentelectedin2010,notonlywasnoprogressmadetowardsthisgoal,anumberofbackwardsstepsweretaken.
SinceitselectioninNovember2014,theAndrewsGovernmenthasshownencouragingsignsitintendstoonceagainplayaleadershiproleinenergyandwaterefficiencypolicy.Keycommitmentstodateinclude:
IncreasingtargetsundertheVictorianEnergyEfficiencyTargetschemeandcommittingtofurtherstrengthenthescheme
Extendingcouncil-ratesbasedfinancing(EnvironmentalUpgradeAgreements)fornon-residentialbuildingupgradestoallVictoriancouncils
Environment Victoria is calling on the Victorian Government to recommit to the One Million Homes Alliance goal: That Victoria’s housing stock meets an average 5 star equivalent and 100 litre/person/day standard by 2025.
04VICTORIA CAN LEAD AGAIN ON EFFICIENCY
55GovernmentofVictoria2010,Taking Action for Victoria’s Future: Victorian Climate Change White Paper,p.17.
27
ReleasinganenergyefficiencyandproductivitystatementSaving Energy, Growing JobsinJune2015andcommittingtoreleaseamoredetailedstrategyinlate2015.
Afterfouryearsofinactionwhiletherestoftheworldmovedahead,itiscriticalthatthegovernmentdeliversonthisearlypromisebyoutlininganambitiousefficiencyagendaforVictoria.
Thestartingpointshouldbethearticulationofacleargoalagainstwhichprogresscanbemeasured.EnvironmentVictoriaiscallingontheVictoriangovernmenttorecommittotheOneMillionHomesAlliancegoal:
“That Victoria’s housing stock meets an average 5 Star equivalent and 100 litre/person/day standard by 2025.”56
Quantitative,measurabletargetsinotherpolicyareasincludingcommercialandgovernmentbuildingsarealsoneeded.
56OneMillionHomesAlliance2015,2025 Roadmap to Energy and Water Efficient Homes,www.onemillionhomes.org.au
Achievinga‘stepchange’improvementinthequalityofVictoria’sbuildingstockwithin10yearswilldependonallstakeholders–homeandbusinessowners,tenantsandlandlords–havingtheincentiveandpracticalassistancetheyneedtotakeaction.
ImplementingthesesixambitiousyetachievablestepswouldaddressthebarrierspreventingVictorianhouseholds(seeFigure7)andbusinessownersfrominvestinginefficiency.Creatingastablepolicyenvironmentwhichencouragesinvestment,whiletargetingassistancetothemostvulnerable,willensuregovernmentresourcesdeliverhigh-impactoutcomes.
28 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy and water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
05SIX STEPS TO ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP
Figure 7.Victoria’shousingstockbytenureandbarrierstoenergyefficiencyinvestment.57
Split incentive:
Tenants pay bills but
landlords have control over
quality of dwelling
240,000low income
520,000 total
RENTERS
Tenants lack control over
quality of dwelling
80,000 total
All low income
social HOUSING
NB. Low-income AND VULNERABLE HOUSEHOLDS TOTAL approximately one million
barriers
barriers
Lack of timely, trusted
information
Upfront costs unaffordable for asset-rich but cash-poor homeowners
798,000 total
245,000low income
720,000 total
320,000low income
HOMEOWNERS
with mortgage
without mortgage
57 Ibid
29
Step 1. Improve standards for residential buildings
A visually simple rating systemTheVictorianResidentialEfficiencyScorecardpromisedbytheVictoriangovernmentshouldbedesignedtoaddvaluetoexistingtoolsandbeusedasabasisforimprovedstandards.
Itshouldbevisuallysimpleyettechnicallyrigorous,allowinghomeownerstoeasilyseehowtheirhomeperformsandwhatthatmeansforrunningcosts(foranexample,seetheUKratingsysteminBox1onpage32).TheScorecardshouldofferoneratingscale,rangingfromtheworst-performingexistinghometoazeronetemissionsstandardfornewbuildings,andshouldincorporatebothwaterandenergyefficiency.Tominimisecosts,assessmentscouldbebasedonrelativelysimpleandlow-cost‘tick-box’ratingsatthebottomend(e.g.Doesthehomehaveinsulationandefficientfixedappliances?)tomorecomplexperformance-basedassessmentsatthetop.
Mandatory disclosure at point of sale by 2016Requiringhomeownerstodisclosetheirhome’sefficiencyratingwhentheysellwouldprovidevaluableinformationtopurchasersandcreateamarketincentiveforvendorstoimprovetheirhome.Fullbenefitscanonlyberealisedifdisclosureismandatoryforallhomessothatpurchaserscancompare‘appleswithapples’andmakeinformeddecisions.
In the Australian capital territory vendors are realising a three percent improvement in market value for every 1 star increase in performance.
30 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy AND water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
WiththemedianhousepriceinMelbournenownearly$650,00058 thecost(approximately$400)ofassessinganddisclosingperformancewouldrepresentatrivialproportionofthesalepriceofmosthomes.IntheACT,wheremandatorydisclosureatthepointofsalehasbeeninplacesince1999,vendorsarerealisingathreepercentimprovementinmarketvalue(or$19,500fortheMelbournemedianhouseprice)forevery1Starincreaseinperformance.59
Morethanadecadeafterworkbegantoimplementanationalscheme,itiswellbeyondtimetodeliverthisimportantreforminVictoriabyintroducingmandatorydisclosureatthepointofsalebyJune2016.
Minimum standards at point of lease by 2017DisclosurealonewillbeoflimitedbenefittothemorethanhalfamillionhouseholdsintheprivaterentalmarketinVictoria.Disclosurereliesontheconceptofinformationbeingusedtoexercisemarketpower.However,inatightrentalmarketsuchasMelbourne,mostrenters,andparticularlylow-incomerenters,havelittlemarketpowerandfewopportunitiestodiscriminatebetweenpropertiesofdifferingquality.
ThelowratesofparticipationbylandlordsinrecentschemessuchasthefederalHomeInsulationProgram–evenwhenparticipationcameatzerocost–isevidencethatlandlordscurrentlyhavelittleincentivetovoluntarilyinvestinefficiencyimprovements.60WithpropertyvaluesinmetropolitanMelbournecontinuingtorise,andthousandsofnegativelygearedinvestorsenjoyingsignificanttaxconcessions,itistimetoshiftthebalancebackinfavouroftenantswhoarecurrentlyshoulderingmostofthecostsofourpoorqualityhousingstock.
EffectivelyaddressingthesplitincentivefacedbytenantsandlandlordsrequirestheintroductionofminimumstandardsatthepointofleasebyJune2016,combinedwiththeestablishmentofcomplementaryfinancingmechanismstoenablelandlordstomeetstandards(seeStep2).
Theminimumstandardshouldinitiallybesetatarelativelylowandachievablelevel,requiringupgradeofonlytheworst-performingproperties.Thisminimumstandardshouldbeincreasedovertimethrougheliminationofthelowestratingcategoryby2020,todriveimprovementsacrossourentirerentalstockandensureallrentersbenefitovertime.Proactivestepsalsoneedtobetakentoprotect
It is time to shift the balance back in favour of tenants who are currently shouldering most of the costs of our poor quality housing stock.
CHAPTER 05SIX STEPS TO ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP
58Wilson,A.2015,‘HousePriceReportMarchQuarter2015’,DomainGroup,www.apmpricefinder.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/Domain-Group-House-Price-Report-March-Quarter-2015.pdf
59DepartmentofEnergy,Water,HeritageandtheArts2008,Energy Efficiency Rating and House Price in the ACT,preparedfortheNationalFrameworkforEnergyEfficiency.
60Lovering,M2013,‘Canlow-incometenantsrentanenergyefficienthome?’,AHURIEvidenceReview040,www.ahuri.edu.au/housing_information/review/evrev040
31
tenantsfromunreasonablerentincreasesandevictions,forexamplethroughtargetedassistanceforlow-incomelandlords.
ThecurrentreviewoftheVictorian Residential Tenancies Act presents anopportunitytoprovideabroadpowerfortheMinisterforConsumerAffairstomakeregulationsforminimumstandardsforallresidentialtenancies,aswellasimprovecomplianceregimes.
Set a goal of Zero Net Emissions and Water-efficient new buildings by 2020Progressiveimprovementinstandardsfornewbuildingsisalsoneededtoensurethetotalstockofunderperforminghomesdoesnotcontinueto expand.
Fiveyearssincetheintroductionofthe6Starstandard,andwithtechnicalassessmentsandbuildingindustrypracticebothdemonstratingtheviabilityof7Starhomes,62itistimetoraisethestandardfornewhomestoatleast7-8starsbyJune2016.
Thisshouldbefollowedbyafurtherstep-changeinnewbuildperformanceby2020,basedona‘wholeofenergyandwatermanagement’approachwhichintegratesenergyefficiency,water-sensitivedesign,alternativewatersourcessuchasrainwaterandgreywater,andrenewableenergy.
Across-sectortaskforceshouldbeestablishedbyearly2016todefinestandardsanddeveloppathwaystowardsachievingthegoalofzeronetemissionsandwater-efficientnewhomesby2020.
Five years since the introduction of the 6 Star standard, it is time to raise the standard for new homes to at least 7-8 stars by June 2016.
Left: TheSolarSollewHouseinSeaholmeisa9Staroff-the-planhomewhichbringshigh-endsustainabilityintothemainstream,usingaboutone-tenthoftheenergyandone-thirdofthewaterofanaverageVictorianhome.62
61www.positivefootprints.com.au
62Forexample,Burbankhomesatwww.burbank.com.au/victoria/sustainability;Pitt&Sherry2010,The Pathway to 2020 for Low Energy, Low Carbon Buildings in Australia,DCC137/2010
32 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy AND water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
Step 2. Facilitate accessible and affordable finance Althoughefficiencyupgradessavemoneyovertime,theupfrontcostscandiscouragemanyhomeownersfromtakingaction.
Whileimprovingstandardswillcreateanincentiveforinvestment,thereisanimportantroleforgovernmentinfacilitatingaccessibleandaffordablefinancetoenablehomeownersandlandlordstomeetstandards.Withbondratesatanall-timelowandfinanceforgovernmentssoaffordable,therehasneverbeenabettertimetoinvestininfrastructure,particularlyinfrastructurewhichhassuchaprofoundeffectonourqualityoflife,ourproductivityandthefairnessofourcommunity.
Improve compliance regimesAneffectivecomplianceregimeisalsocriticaltoensuringstandardsdeliverimprovedperformanceinpractice.ThereareopportunitiestoimproveVictoria’scurrentcompliancearrangements,includingexpandingrandomauditsofcompletedbuildingsandimposingeffectivefinesfornon-compliance.
CHAPTER 05SIX STEPS TO ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP
Box 1. Minimum Rental Standards, United Kingdom.
InFebruary2015,theUKGovernmentannouncedthatfromApril2018,landlordsinEnglandandWaleswillbebannedfromrentingouttheworst-performinghomeswhichfallintothelowestEnergyPerformanceCertificate(EPC)bandsofFandG.Thenewregulationsareexpectedtohelparoundamilliontenantswhoarepayingasmuchas£1000ayearmorethantheaveragebillbecauseofpoorlyinsulatedhomes.63
63www.ukgbc.org/resources/key-topics/new-build-and-retrofit/retrofit-domestic-buildings
33
Reform the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target schemeTheVictorianEnergyEfficiencyTargetschemerepresentsanimportantsourceoffundingforefficiencyupgrades,andtherecentannouncementofincreasedtargetsrisingto6.5milliontonnesofgreenhousepollutionreductionby2020iswelcome.
Thereisnowanopportunitytofurtherstrengthentheschemeby:
• Expandingallowableactivitiesincludingcommerciallightingupgrades,ceilinginsulationandsplit-systemair-conditioningunitsforheating
• Adoptingproject-basedmethodologiestosupportlargerwhole-of-houseretrofits
• Broadeningparticipationbylow-incomehouseholds,particularlyaccesstohighervaluemeasures.
Extend Environmental Upgrade Agreements to residential buildingsOn-billfinancingarrangements,suchasEnvironmentalUpgradeAgreements(EUA),provideanaffordablemechanismforfundingintegratedefficiencyandrenewableenergyupgrades.
TheVictoriangovernmenthasrecentlyannouncedtheextensionofEUAfinancingforcommercialbuildingstoallVictoriancouncils.Thisisawelcomestepandshouldbefollowedbyanextensiontoresidentialbuildings,sothatallVictoriancouncilsareinapositiontoofferaffordable,rates-basedfinancingforretrofitstohomeownersandlandlords.TheCityofDarebin’sSolar$averprogramprovidesasuccessfulexampleofanEUA-stylefinancingarrangementbeingappliedintheresidentialcontext(SeeBox2onpage34).
However,forasuccessfulroll-outofsuchaschemestatewide,stategovernmentwillneedtoplayanactiveroleinbrokeringpartnershipsbetweencouncilsandprovidersoflow-costfinance,soastoensureallcouncilshaveaccesstothenecessaryfinancialresources.
Theintroductionofimprovedstandards(suchasmandatorydisclosureandminimumrentalstandards)willalsobekeytoensuringhomeandbusinessownersandlandlordshavesufficientincentivetotakeadvantageofthescheme.
On-bill financing arrangements, such as Environmental Upgrade Agreements (EUA), provide an affordable mechanism for funding integrated efficiency and renewable energy upgrades.
During2014,apartnershipbetweentheCityofDarebin,EnergyMattersandMorelandEnergyFoundationcoordinatedtheinstallationofalmost300solarPVsystemsontheroofsoflow-income(pensioner)householdsinMelbourne’snorth.
DarebinCouncilcoveredtheupfrontcostoftheinstallations,whichhouseholdsarethenpayingbackthroughtheirratespaymentsovera10yearperiod.Therepaymentshavebeenstructuredsothathouseholdswillsavemoreeachyearontheirelectricitybillthantheamountbywhichtheirratesareincreased,sothattheystarttofinanciallybenefitassoonastheinstallationiscomplete.64
Box 2. Darebin Solar $aver program
34 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy and water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
Targeted assistance for low-income landlordsInconcertwithintroducingminimumrentalstandards,governmentneedstotakestepstoprotecttenantsfromunreasonablerentincreasesandevictions.ProvisionswithintheResidential Tenancies Act(VictorianPropertyFundandtheResidentialTenanciesFund)couldbeusedtoprovidemeans-testedgrantsorloanstoenablelow-incomelandlordstomeetminimumstandards.LoansprovidedundertheResidentialTenanciesFundcouldincludetermsandconditionsprotectingtenantsfromunreasonablerentrises(whichdon’treflectthecostsofupgrade)andevictions.
CHAPTER 05SIX STEPS TO ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP
64MorelandEnergyFoundationat:http://www.mefl.com.au/news-and-events/item/1146-darebin-solar-aver.html
35
Step 3. Create a culture of efficiency and provide relevant informationMostVictoriansareunawareofhowtheirhomesperform,howmuchmoneytheycouldsavebyinvestinginefficiency,andwhichmeasureswilldeliverthemostcost-effectiveimprovements.Whileenergyliteracyisgenerallylow,investinginretrofittingwillremainalowpriorityformostbusyhouseholds.
Amasspubliceducationpushinthetraditionofsuccessfulroadsafety,waterconservationandpublichealthcampaignsisneededtobuildpublicsupportforefficiencyandimprovedstandards.Inparticular,itwillbeimportanttoclearlycommunicatetheimplicationsofimprovedstandardstohomeandbusinessowners,landlordsandtherealestatesector,soastominimiseconfusionandensureallpropertyownersareawareoftheirresponsibilitiesandtheassistanceavailable.
Masspubliceducationtoachieveawidespreadshiftinpublicsentimentdoesn’tleadtoactiononitsown.Suchacampaignneedstobecomplementedbyaccessiblelocalservicestoprovidepropertyownerswithtechnicaladviceorfinancialassistance.
Victoria’slocalgovernment,environment,communityandenergyefficiencysectorshaveawealthofexperienceindeliveringadviceandretrofitservices,andengagingdiversegroupsinefficiency.Governmentshouldworkwiththesetrusted,localorganisationstofundinformationandadviceservicesacrossthestate,deliveringonline,face-to-faceandphoneadviceaboutretrofitoptionsandreferraltoassessment,financeandinstallationservices.
Step 4. Deliver targeted programs for those most in needThefirstthreesteps–Standards,FinanceandInformation–willeffectivelyaddressthebarriershinderingmostpropertyownersfrominvestinginefficiencyimprovements.
However,asignificantnumberofdisadvantagedandlow-incomeVictorianhouseholdsfaceadditionalbarrierstoengagingwithefficiencyprograms,andneedtargetedinterventionsfromgovernmenttoensuretheydon’tmissout.
36 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy AND water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
Thesehouseholdsincludepublicandcommunityhousingtenants,concessioncardholders,theelderly,utilitiesretailerhardshipprogramparticipants(oftenlargerfamilieswithlargemortgagesandhighenergyuse),energy-rationinghouseholds,AboriginalVictorians,culturallyandlinguisticallydiversecommunities,andpeoplelivingwithdisabilities.
Effectiveparticipationbythesegroupsinenergyefficiencyprogramsreliesonproactivetargetingandrecruitmentthroughexistingtrustedrelationshipswithestablishedlocalgovernmentandsocialsectorserviceproviders.
Fund a Victorian low-income energy efficiency programThereisalreadyasolidfoundationofexperienceandexpertiseinengagingwithdiversegroupsinVictoria,includingprogramsfundedbythefederalgovernment’sLow-IncomeEnergyEfficiencyProgram(LIEEP),whichisduetoendinJune2016.
Bytheircompletionin2016,VictorianLIEEPprojectswillhavereachedalmost15,000Victorianhouseholdsinbothmetropolitanandregionalareas.Engagementmethodsrangefromeducationalworkshops,totrainingparticipants,todeliveringhomeenergyassessments,toinstallationofminorandmajorretrofits.
TheimminentclosureoftheLIEEPschemeriskslosingthevaluableexpertiseandon-groundrelationshipswhicharecriticaltotheeffective
Many disadvantaged and low-income Victorian households face additional barriers to engaging with efficiency programs, and need targeted interventions from government to ensure they don’t miss out.
CHAPTER 05SIX STEPS TO ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP
Right: EnvironmentVictoria’sFuturePoweredFamiliesprojectusesapeer-to-peermodeltodeliverenergyandwaterefficiencytrainingtolow-incomeparentsfrommigrantandrefugeebackgrounds.
deliveryofprogramsto‘hardtoreach’segmentsofthecommunity.SuchalosswouldjeopardisethesuccessfuldeliveryofsimilarprogramsinVictoriainfuture.
ThereisasignificantopportunityfortheVictoriangovernmenttobuildonthesolidfoundationcreatedbyLIEEP,byfundingacomprehensivelow-incomeenergyefficiencyprogramforVictoriaencompassingbehaviourchange,buildingupgradeandappliancereplacementassistance.
ThecostofdeliveringaVictorianLIEEPschemeofasimilarscaletocurrentprogramsoperatinginVictoria,butoverafouryearperiodinsteadoftwotothreeyearprojects,wouldbearound$32million.
Partner with utility retailers to co-finance retrofits for Hardship Program participantsVictorianutilitiesretailershaveasignificantandgrowingproblemwithcustomersexperiencingfinancialhardshipwhoareunabletopaytheirbills.Inparticular,customersonpaymentplanswhicharebelowthecostoftheirbillsarebuildingupdebttheyhavelittlechanceofpayingoff.65
Withoutinterventiontoincreasethesecustomers’capacitytopay(throughincreasedassistance),and/ortoreduceconsumption(throughretrofittingandappliancereplacement),energyhardshipanddisconnectionratesarelikelytocontinuetoworsen.
Whileprovidingassistanceforcustomersintemporaryhardshipisanappropriateroleforretailers,tacklingchronicunaffordabilityandtheunderlyingcausesofhighusageshouldbearesponsibilitysharedwithgovernment.Furthermore,giventhatasignificantproportionofhardshipcustomersliveinprivateorpublicrentalhousing,opportunitiesforretailerstoactalonearelimited.
Governmentshouldexploreopportunitiesforpartneringwithretailerstoco-financecomprehensiveefficiencyandrenewableenergyretrofitsforcustomersexperiencinghardship.AnumberofinnovativefundingmodelsarenowbeingimplementedaroundVictoria,e.g.theDarebinSolar$averschemetargetedatlow-incomehomeowners(seeBox2)andtheStKildaCommunityHousingCleanEnergyPackagewhichhasbeendesignedforsocialhousing(seeBox3onpage40).
Thereisanopportunitytobuildonthisworktodesignajointlyfinancedretrofitimplementationmodelwhichissuitedtotheneedsofarangeofcustomerandtenuretypes.
Government should explore opportunities for partnering with retailers to co-finance comprehensive efficiency and renewable energy retrofits for customers experiencing hardship.
65http://aglblog.com.au/2015/09/effective-support-for-vulnerable-households-closing-the-gap-between-capacity-to-pay-and-cost-of-consumption-part-2/
37
Invest in skills and trainingJobscreatedbytheenergyefficiencyindustryareembeddedacrossawiderangeofexistingindustriesincludingmanufacturing,construction,finance,retailandservices.Furthermore,morethan40percentofwaterandenergyefficiencyjobsarelikelytobesemi-skilled,potentiallyopeningupopportunitiesforunemployedworkers.
Aprogramimplementingcomprehensiveretrofitsshouldincludeopportunitiesforskillstrainingtoensureworkerswithrelevantskillsareavailable.Retrofitprogramscanalsobedesignedtoprovidetrainingandemploymentopportunitiesfordisadvantagedworkers(seeBox3).
Appropriateinvestmentinskillstraining,aswellasarigorousregulatoryregimetoensureworkplacesafety,isalsocriticaltoensurerisksassociatedwithhomeretrofitprograms(suchasexperiencedintheFederalHomeInsulationProgram)areappropriatelymanagedandminimised.66
38 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy and water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
CHAPTER 05SIX STEPS TO ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP
66AustralianNationalAuditOffice2010,GreenLoansProgram,PerformanceAuditNo.92010-11.
67EnvironmentVictoria2009,Victoria – The Green Jobs State,adaptedfromTable1,p.23.
Retrofit activity
Audit
Upgradelighting
Weather-sealing
Ceilinginsulation
Replaceshower-head
Hotwater–electrictosolar
Hotwater–electrictoheatpump
Fridgeupgrade
Dualflushtoilet
Installtapflowcontrollers
Skill needs Labour (hours)
Trained assessor
Unskilled
Semi-skilled
Semi-skilled
Semi-skilled
Plumber
Electrician
Unskilled
Plumber
Semi-skilled
2 - 3
0.25
2 - 3
2.0
0.25
4.0
2.0
0
3.0
0.5
Table 2.Workinvolvedandskillsauditforatypicalhomeretrofit.67
39
Step 5. Upgrade government buildingsTheVictoriangovernmentcandemonstrateleadershipbyinvestinginupgradingitsownbuildingsandoperations.
ThegovernmentshouldreinstateandstrengthenthesuccessfulGreenerGovernmentBuildings(GGB)programwhichwasscrappedbythepreviousCoalitiongovernment.AsofJune2012,theprogramhaddelivered26separateenergyefficiencyprojectscoveringpublicbuildingsandinfrastructureresponsibleformorethan20percentoftheVictoriangovernment’sannualgreenhouseemissions.Outcomesincluded:
• Annualdirectcostsavingsinutilitiesandmaintenancebillsof$32.17millionidentified
• Projectedavoidedcostsavingsof$46.8millionby2020duetoutilitypricerises
• Estimatedavoidedcapitalexpenditureof$81millionoverthenextfourbudgetperiods.68
Inreintroducingtheprogram,governmentshouldreversethede-centralisationoffundingtoindividualdepartmentsandagenciesashasoccurredunderthesubsequentEfficientGovernmentBuildingsprogram,andreinstateTreasury’sroleinfinancingenergysavingprojectsthatdeliversubstantialreturnsoninvestment.
StategovernmentshouldalsoprovideinformationandsupporttoassistlocalgovernmentanduniversitiestoaccesstheGGBframeworktoupgradetheefficiencyoftheirbuildingsandoperations.
Theothersignificantgroupofgovernment-ownedbuildingstockissocial(publicandcommunity)housing.Therearemorethan80,000socialhousingdwellingsinVictoria,ofwhichapproximately65,000arepublichousingdwellings.69
Morethan40percentofpublichousingstockisover30yearsoldandsubstantialmaintenanceisrequiredtoavoidtheclosureofapproximately10,000properties(approximately14percentoftheportfolio)overthenextfouryears.70
WithmanyofVictoria’smostdisadvantagedcitizenslivinginsocialhousing,andwithclimatechangelikelytoexacerbatetheadverseimpactsofpoorqualityhousing,thegovernmenthasadutyofcaretoensureitprovidessafeandaffordableshelterforthosemostinneed,nowandintothefuture.
The Victorian government can demonstrate leadership by investing in UPGRADING its own buildings and operations.
68DepartmentofTreasuryandFinance2012,Greener Government Buildings Performance Report 2009-2012.
69www.aihw.gov.au/housing-assistance/haa/2015social-housing-dwellings/
70VictorianAuditorGeneral’sOfficeMarch2012Access to Public Housing.
StKildaCommunityHousinghasrecentlypartneredwithEnergyforthePeopletotransition20buildings(337roominghouseunits)tozeronetemissionsoveratwo-yearperiod.Theprojectisdesignedtobecash-flowpositivefromthefirstyear,andincludesamorecompetitiveretailtariff,installationofupto150kWofsolarplusbatterystorage,energymanagementtechnologies,LEDlightingandhotwaterupgradesforspaceheatingandshowerfacilities.Italsoincludesacompletetransitionawayfromnaturalgas.
Thepackageisexpectedtosavemorethan$900,000over20years,theretainedfundingbeinginvestedinloweringcostsandprovidingeducationandtrainingopportunitiesforsocialhousingtenantsfor20-plusyears(thelifeofthesolarpanels).Anadditional$30,000perannumwillbesavedthroughthenewretailtariff.71
box 3. St Kilda Community Housing Clean Energy Package
CHAPTER 05SIX STEPS TO ENERGY AND WATER EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP
40 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy and water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
71http://energyforthepeople.com.au/content/st-kilda-community-housing-transition-zero#sthash.9h9TfmCe.dpuf
GovernmentshouldsetagoaltoupgradeVictoria’sentirepublichousingstockby2025.Thiswouldrequire:
• IncreasingtheOfficeofHousingbudgettosupportthedeliveryofacomprehensiveauditandretrofitprogramtoaminimumof10percentofpublichousingdwellingsperyear.Thiscouldbedeliveredinconjunctionwithexistingassetmanagementandmaintenance(includingre-lettingupgrades).Asthecurrentrateofrenovationisapproximately2000propertiesperyear,thiswouldrepresentafourfoldincrease.
• Raisingtheperformancestandardfornewbuildingsto8Starimmediatelytoensurethislong-livedbuildingstockmeetstheneedsofthefuture.
• Reformingtheappliancereplacementpolicytorequireappliancestomeetanefficiencystandardirrespectiveoffueltype(forexample,duetotechnologicalchangeelectricreversecycleheaters/coolersareinmanycasesnowmoreefficientthangasheaters).
TheVictoriangovernmentshouldalsosupportcommunityhousingoperatorstoaccessinformation,adviceandfinancetoimplementcomprehensiveefficiencyandrenewableenergyupgrades.
the government has a duty of care to provide safe and affordable shelter for those most in need.
Figure 8.Energysavingsopportunitiesincommercialbuildingsretrofits,Australia.74
41
Step 6. Drive improvements in non-residential buildingsCommercialelectricityuseisresponsiblefornearlyhalfofAustralia’stotalemissionsfromthebuildingssector.Significantopportunitiesexistforimprovingtheenergyandwaterefficiencyofnon-residentialbuildingsacrossAustralia(Figure8) andVictoria, deliveringsubstantialcostsavingsandemissionreductions.72
ThemajorityofimprovementachievedinAustraliancommercialbuildingsoverthelast10yearshasoccurredinlargeoffices,consistentwiththegreaterpolicyattentionthissectorhasreceivedtodate.73 However,significantopportunitiesavailableinsmallermid-tierofficeandretailbuildingshavereceivedlessattention.
72ClimateWorks2010,Australian Carbon Trust Report: Commercial building emission reduction opportunities;SustainabilityVictoria2013,The Next Wave: Retrofitting Victoria’s office buildings.
73ClimateWorks2013,Tracking progress towards a low carbon economy: Buildings.
74 Ibid.
42 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy AND water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
75SustainabilityVictoria,www.sustainability.vic.gov.au/~/media/resources/documents/services%20and%20advice/business/srsb%20eeob/srsb%20eeob%20case%20studies/srsb%20eeob%20case%20study%20pixel.pdf
The Pixel Building in Carlton (PICTURED BELOW) is the first carbon and water-neutral office building of its kind in Australia, utilising energy and water efficiency measures, renewable energy, rainwater harvesting and greywater treatment and re-use.75
Inconsultationwithindustry,EnvironmentVictoriahasidentifiedthefollowingrecommendationsforthissector.TheVictoriangovernmentshoulddevelopa10yearplanforupgradingthelargenumberoflowerquality‘mid-tier’officeandretailbuildings.Astagedapproachbasedonactionresearchandstakeholdercollaborationcouldbeginbyintroducinganincentiveprogramin2016-17,potentiallybasedondifferentialcouncilrates.Thiswouldbefollowedbytheintroductionofminimumleasestandardsin2019-20,complementedbyaccesstoaffordablefinance.
Thereisalsoaneedforastatemandatoryefficiencyschemecoveringlargeenergyandwateruserstobereinstated.EPA’sEnvironmentandResourceEfficiencyPlans(EREP)program,whichwasclosedbytheCoalitiongovernmentin2013,requiredlargeenergyandwater-usingsitestoidentifyandimplementresourceefficiencyactions.
Over270commercialandindustrialsitesparticipatedintheEREPprogramfromadiverserangeofindustrysectorsincludingmanufacturingsites,hospitals,retailcentresandsportingfacilities.Priortoclosureitwasexpectedtosaveover7000terajoulesofenergy,7500megalitresofwater,100,000tonnesofsolidwaste,and$120millionperyear.76
43
The Victorian government should develop a 10-year plan for upgrading the large number of lower quality ‘mid-tier’ office and retail buildings.
76www.epa.vic.gov.au/our-work/programs/past-programs/erep-program
44 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy AND water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
SeveralVictorianregionsarefacingthetwinchallengesofeconomictransformationtriggeredbythedeclineofkeyindustries,andentrenchedsocio-economicdisadvantage.Investmentinacomprehensiveretrofitprogramfortheseregionscouldstimulateeconomicactivityandjobsgrowth,whilehelpingtoeasecostoflivingpressuresforvulnerablehouseholds.
Governmentshouldworkwithkeygroupsineachregion,includinglocalgovernment,thecommunitysector,unions,retailersandlargeemployerstodesignacomprehensivehouseholdretrofitprogramwiththetwinaimsofboostinglocaleconomicactivity,andimprovingtheaffordabilityandliveabilityofthehomesoftheregion’smostvulnerablecitizens.
Programsandinvestmentcouldbetargetedatpublichousingtenants,concessioncardholders,retailerhardshipprogramparticipants,thelong-termunemployedandthosefacingredundancy.Opportunitiesforattractingrenewableenergyinvestment,includingsupportforcommunitysolarprojectsandtheestablishmentofmini-grids,shouldalsobeexplored.
Whilethissectionfocusesongeographiccommunitiesasanexampleofhowretrofittingcouldachievemultiplebenefits,thereareequallyothercommunitiesofneedacrossthestate,includingtheelderlyandthosewithchronichealthconditions,wheretargetedgovernmentinvestmentcoulddeliversignificanteconomic,socialandhealthbenefitstoVictoria.
Geelong Geelonghasbeenhithardbythelossorimminentclosureofkeyindustriesinthelastcoupleofyears.ThreehundredjobswerelostwhenQantascloseditsAvalonmaintenancefacilityinAvalon,another800wentwhenAlcoashutitsPointHenryoperations,andafurther500jobswillgowhenFordclosesitsdoorsinlate2016.Otherbigemployerssuch
06CASE STUDY: RETROFITTING FOR VULNERABLE REGIONS
asTargetandBoralhavealsoshedstaff,andallofthesedirectjoblosseshavewiderimpactsonjobsandbusinessesdownthesupplychain.
TheimpactofthesejoblossesiscompoundedbyGeelong’sstatusasarelativelydisadvantagedcommunity.Unemploymentiscurrentlysixpercent,whileyouthunemploymentsitsat19.4percent.CorioiswithinthetopsixmostdisadvantagedpostcodesinVictoria,andBarwon-WesternDistrictisthethirdmosteconomicallyvulnerableregioninAustralia.77
ClimateWorks’Low Carbon Growth Plan for Geelongidentifiedbuildingefficiencyupgradesasofferingsignificantcost-effectiveopportunitiesforreducingGeelong’sgreenhouseemissions,aswellasstimulatingeconomicactivity.
Figure 9.ShareoftotalemissionsreductionopportunitiesbysectorinGeelong,2015.78
77www.enterprisegeelong.com.au/unemployment-rate-data;DroppingOfftheEdgeatwww.dote.org.au/findings/victoria/;Circelli,MandStanwick,J2014,Economic vulnerability in Australia 2002-12,NationalCentreforVocationalEducationalResearch.
78ClimateWorks2015,Low Carbon Growth Plan for Greater Geelong 2015 Update,adaptedfrom2015graphonp.6.
45
46 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy AND water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
TheGeelongRegionInnovationandInvestmentFund(GRIIF)hasbeenestablishedasa$29.5milliongrantsprogramfocusedonencouraginginvestmentinnewbusinessopportunitiesandjobsgrowth,inrecognitionoftheeconomicandsocialimpactofFord’sexit.AcomprehensiveretrofitprogramforvulnerablehouseholdsshouldbeconsideredapriorityforsupportunderthisFund.
Melbourne’s Northern suburbsMelbourne’snorthernsuburbswillalsobehithardbyFord’sexit,withtheclosureofitsBroadmeadowsplantresultingininthelossof650jobs.79Afurther700full-timeandpart-timejobsaresettogowhenWoolworthsrelocatesitsHumedistributioncentre,whilearaftofsmallermanufacturingbusinessesinMelbourne’snorthsuchasBettaFoodscontinuetoshedstaff.
Melbourne’snorthisalsoahotspotofsocio-economicdisadvantage,withanunemploymentrateof7.2percentandayouthunemploymentrate of 14.7 percent.80Threenorthernsuburbspostcodes–Broadmeadows,CoolarooandCampbellfield–arewithinthetop12mostdisadvantagedpostcodesinVictoria.81
AMelbourne’sNorthFordResponseJointTaskforcehasbeenformedtodeveloparegionalstrategytominimisetheimpactoftheFordclosureontheregionaleconomyandgeneratenewjobs.A$24.5millionMelbourne’sNorthInnovationandInvestmentFundhasbeenestablishedto“supportinnovativejobcreationprojectsthatstrengthenanddiversifytheregionaleconomyandemploymentbase”.82
Implementingaregionalhomeretrofitprogramwithaparticularfocusonlow-incomeanddisadvantagedhouseholdsshouldbeconsideredapriorityforinvestmentfromthisFund.
Latrobe ValleyIfVictoriaistomeetthechallengeofreducinggreenhouseemissionsandtransitioningtoalow-emissionseconomyinanorderlymannerwhichsharesthecostsfairly,wemustinvestinneweconomicopportunitiesforcoal-dependentcommunitiessuchastheLatrobeValley.
TheLatrobeValleyisalreadyoneofVictoria’smostdisadvantagedandeconomicallyvulnerableregions,andinmanywaysisstillrecoveringfromtheimpactsofthepoorlymanagedelectricitysectorprivatisationprocessofthe1990s.Theunemploymentrateiscurrently5.4percent,whileMorwellandMoearewithinthetop14mostdisadvantaged
CHAPTER 06CASE STUDY: RETROFITTING FOR VULNERABLE REGIONS
79http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-23/ford-to-close-geelong-and-broadmeadows-plants/4707960
80http://vcoss.org.au/blog/vcoss-snapshot-youth-unemployment-in-victoria-and-northern-metro/,Table2andTable3
81DroppingOfftheEdge,www.dote.org.au/findings/victoria/
82www.rdv.vic.gov.au/regional-development-australia/northern-melbourne/media-releases/minimising-the-economic-effects-of-the-ford-closure
postcodesinVictoria.TheLatrobeValleyalsohasoneofthehighestratesoflungcancerandcardiovasculardiseaseinVictoria–asituationwhichmayhavebeensignificantlyexacerbatedbythe2014Hazelwoodminefirewhichblanketedthecommunitywithtoxicfumesformorethanamonth.83
Consistentwithotherstudies,theClimateWorksLowCarbonGrowthPlanforGippslandidentifiedimprovingbuildingefficiencyasofferingsignificantcost-effectiveopportunitiesforcuttingemissionsandboostingeconomicactivity.ItfoundthatGippsland’shouseholdscouldsave$22.9millioneachyearbyretrofittingtheirhomestoimproveenergyefficiency,buildingmoreefficientnewhomesorchoosingnewcarsthatconsumelessfuel.
Figure 10.LowCarbonGrowthPlanforGippsland,MarginalAbatementCostCurve.84
83Teague,JCatfordandSPetering3September2014,Hazelwood Mine Fire Inquiry Report 2014,HazelwoodMineFireInquiry.
84ClimateWorks2011,Low Carbon Growth Plan for Gippsland.
47
48 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy AND water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
AstheAndrewsGovernmentapproachestheendofitsfirstyearinoffice,therehavebeenencouragingsignsthatitappreciatesthemyriadbenefitsthatinvestmentinefficiencycandeliverforVictoria’speople,environmentandeconomy.
TheenergyefficiencyandproductivitystatementSaving Energy, Growing JobsreleasedinJune2015articulatedavisionfor“amoreefficient,productiveandresilientstate”,andamoredetailedstrategyhasbeenpromised.IncreasedVictorianEnergyEfficiencyTargetsto2020havebeenannounced,whileprocessestosetaVictorianRenewableEnergyTargetanddeveloparenewableenergyactionplanareunderway.
However,thetasknowistosetambitiousgoalswhichareunderpinnedbysufficientfundingandpolicyreformtoensuredelivery.
AsweheadtowardstheParisclimatesummitinlate2015,theAndrewsGovernmenthasanopportunitytodemonstrateitunderstandsthescaleofthechallengesweface,andispreparedtotakeaction.Anycrediblestrategytobothmitigateandadapttoclimatechangeandrapidlytransitiontorenewableenergywillhaveafocusonwaterandenergyefficiency.
Efficiency,particularlyimprovingthequalityofourbuildingstock,isalsofundamentaltodeliveringonothercorecommitmentsmadebytheAndrewsGovernmentpriortothe2014election–growingjobs,enhancinghealthandwellbeing,andcreatingliveable,inclusiveandsustainablecommunities.85
Victoriacouldachieveanefficiencytransformationwithin10years.ButitwilltakeasustainedcommitmentfromgovernmenttoinvestinmeaningfulassistanceforVictoria’smostvulnerablehouseholds,whilecreatingastablepolicyenvironmentwhichencouragesprivateinvestmentintherestofourbuildingstock.
07CONCLUSION
85VictorianLabor2014,www.viclabor.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Victorian-Labor-Platform-2014.pdf
49
Overthecomingmonthsandyears,EnvironmentVictoriawilltracktheprogressoftheAndrewsGovernmentandfuturestategovernmentsagainstthesixstepstoefficiencyleadershipwehaveoutlinedinthisreport.
DeliveringonthisagendawouldseeVictoriareclaimitsleadershipstatusandsetusonapathtowardsgreatersocialequity,economicprosperityandenvironmentalsustainability.Butthereisnomoretimetowaste–deliveryneedstostartnow.
50 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy AND water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
08APPENDICES
Appendix 1. Home retrofit costs and savingsHow do Victorian homes use energy?TheaverageVictorianhouseholdspendsaround$2800onenergybillseveryyear,withmorethanathirdofcostsgoingonheating(predominantlygas)alone.86
Householdenergyuseisinfluencedby:
• Thequalityofthebuildingshell(thermalperformance)
• Theefficiencyoflightingandappliances,particularlyspacewaterheating
• Behaviour,orhowweuselightingandappliances.
What do household upgrades cost?TheaverageVictorianhomebuiltbefore2005averageslessthan2Stars(1.81)intermsofenergyratingperformance.ArecentSustainabilityVictoriainvestigationofretrofitoptionsandcost-effectivenessacross60pre-2005homesinVictoriaconcludedthatanimprovementof3.69Starscouldbeachievedthroughbuildingshellupgradesalone(excludingdouble-glazing)atacostof$2570per1starincreaseinperformance(seeTable3).
Incorporatinglightingandapplianceupgradesshouldlowercostsfurtheraslightingandapplianceupgradesaremorecost-effectiveoverallthanbuildingshellupgrades.
And,asthecostofrenewableenergycontinuestodeclinewhilegaspriceshaveriseninrecentyears,goinggas-freeandmakinghomes‘zeronetemissions’throughacombinationofefficientappliances(e.g.reversecycleair-conditionersusedforbothheatingandcooling),efficiencymeasuresandrenewableenergyisnowarealisticoption.87
86SustainabilityVictoria2014,Household Energy Report.
87BeyondZeroEmissions2013,Zero Carbon Australia Buildings Plan,www.bze.org.au/buildings
Itisimportanttonotethatthestudyfoundawidediversityenergysavingsachievedindifferenthouses,andthatoccupantbehaviourplayedasignificantrole.Hence,undertakingacomprehensiveassessmenttodeterminethemostappropriatemixofmeasuresandeducatehouseholdersaboutenergyandwater-savingbehaviourislikelytodeliverthemostcost-effectiveoutcomes.
Furthermore,takingtheopportunitytoincorporateenergyandwater-savingmeasuresaspartofrenovationscandrivecostsdownevenfurther.About20percentofhomesarerenovatedeachyear,butseveralkeyefficiencyopportunitiesareroutinelymissed,includingimprovinginsulation,draught-sealing,andchoosingefficientwindowsanddoors,lightingandappliances.
Measure Star increase
Gas Elec Total Av. Cost ($) Av. Saving ($/yr)
Payback (yrs)
Draught-sealing 0.69 7.942 225 8.167 $1,037 $157 6.6
Ceilinginsulation(easy)
0.84 8.210 277 8.487 $1,130 $165 6.8
Ceilinginsulation(difficult)
1.14 4.891 204 5.095 $1,119 $102 11.0
Wallinsulation 1.02 5.561 136 5.697 $4,167 $108 38.6
Drapesandpelmets 0.58 2.209 54 2.263 $2,036 $43 38.6
Av. Energy saving (MJ/yr)
Table 3.Averagecostsandenergysavingsformodelledbuildingshellupgrades.88
(Upgrademeasuresmodelledappliedinaspecificorderandcostedatcommercialrates.Changingtheordercouldaffecttheoutcomes.)
88SustainabilityVictoria2014,Household Energy Report,adaptedfromTable3,p.10.
51
52 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy AND water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
How much can a retrofitted home save in bills?TheSustainabilityVictoriastudyfoundthatanefficienthouseholdcouldsavearound40percentofanaveragehousehold’senergycost.Applyingallpracticalenergyefficiencyupgrademeasures(buildingshell,lightingandapplianceupgrades)couldachieveannualaveragesavingsof:
• 35,800MJofenergy
• $990onenergybills
• 3.4tonnesofgreenhousegases.
Furthermore,forhomesinVictoriawhichalreadyhaveanefficientreverse-cycleair-conditionerinstalled,usingthisunitforheatinginsteadofgascouldachievesavingsof$658ayear.89Whenpairedwithrooftopsolar,‘fuel-switching’cancontributetogreenhouseemissionreductionsaswellascostsavings.
Appendix 2. Efficiency and jobsEnergyefficiencyinvestmentcreatesjobsintwoways:
• Asaconsequenceofdirectinvestmentduringprogramimplementation(i.e.manufacturing,tradesandservicesresultingfromone-offworktoretrofit)
• Asaconsequenceofmoneysavedfromenergybillsbeingavailableforspendinginotherpartsoftheeconomy.90
ThisanalysisestimatesthatachievingthegoalofVictoria’shousingstockmeetinga5Star,100L/p/dayenergyandwaterefficiencystandardby2025(asoutlinedintheOne Million Homes 2025 Roadmap),91wouldsupport:
• between7,040and12,800jobs(gross)duringeachyearofthe10-yearprogram.(‘Gross’jobfiguresdonotaccountforjobsmovingfromotherpartsoftheeconomy);and
• 8,500ongoingjobs(net)asaconsequenceofredirectedhouseholdsavings.(‘Net’jobfiguresrepresenttheeffectofredirectingspendingawayfromtherelativelylessjobs-intensiveutilitiessectortotherelativelymorejobs-intensiveoveralleconomy.)
CHAPTER 08APPENDICES
89Forcey,T.2015,Switching Off Gas,MelbourneEnergyInstitute.
90Andersonet.al2014,Assessing National Employment Impacts of Investment in Residential and Commercial Sector Energy Efficiency,PreparedforUSDepartmentofEnergy,PNNL_23402.
91www.onemillionhomes.org.au
53
How much investment could residential retrofitting stimulate?Victoriahasapproximatelytwomillionresidentialdwellings,80percentofwhichwerebuiltpriorto2005.Thispre-2005housingstockaverages1.8 Stars in terms of performance.92UpgradingVictoria’shousingstocktoanaverage5Star,100L/p/daystandardby2025wouldrequirethesedwellingstobeupgradedbyanaverageof3Stars.
(1)1.6milliondwellingsneedtobeupgradedbyan averageof3Stars.
SustainabilityVictoriaestimatesthata4.3Starincreasecanbeachievedatanaveragecostof$2222perstarviabuildingshellupgradesalone.93 (Particulartypesofupgradescostmoreorlessperstar,butasthemixturerequiredacrossVictoriaisunknownweconsideraflataverageappropriate.)SustainabilityVictoriaalsonotesthatlightingandapplianceupgradesaremorecosteffectiveoverallthanthebuildingshellupgrades.
Weconsideranestimateof$2000perstarconservativelyreflectsthecostofimprovementsusingbuildingshell,lighting,andapplianceupgrades.Thisis10percentlowerthanthecostofbuildingshellupgradesalone.
(2) Improvingaresidentialdwelling’senergyperformancecostsapproximately$2000/star
(3) From(1)and(2):Thepackageofmeasuresoutlinedwouldstimulateinvestmentof:1,600,000x3x$2000=$9.6billion
(4) Over10years:$9.6b/10=$960millionperyear
Thisinvestmentwillbeleveragedfromarangeofsourcesincludinggovernment,homeownersandutilitiesretailersthroughamixofregulation,incentiveandprogrammeasures.
Jobs supported through 10-year implementation phaseInternationalestimatesforthenumberofgrossjobssupportedduringtheinvestmentphaseofenergyefficiencyrangefrom11jobs/US$1millionto20jobs/US$1million,forregionsincludingtheUSA,EUandOECD(SeeTable4).(Australianestimatesarenotavailable.)
Toaccountforinternationaldifferencesinconditions,wehaveconvertedtheproposed(Australian)expendituretotherelevantcurrencyusingtheOECD’slatestpurchasingpowerparityindicators.94 Asenergyefficiencyactivitiesspanarangeofcategories,wehavechosentheeconomy-wide
92SustainabilityVictoria2014,Household Energy Report.
93SustainabilityVictoria2014,Household Energy Report,Table3,excludingdoubleglazing.
94OECD2011,‘PPPbenchmarking’,availableatstats.oecd.org/Index.aspx?DataSetCode=PPP2011.C.f.Tables1.2,1.12,and2.2.
54 SIX STEPS TO EFFICIENCY LEADERSHIP | THE PATH TO energy AND water EFFICIENT HOMES AND BUSINESSES
indicatorineachcase.
BasedontheinternationalstudiespresentedinTable4,theupgradeofVictoria’shousingstockcanbereasonablyexpectedtosupportbetween7000and13,000jobsperyear.Thisisanestimateofgrossjobs,notnetadditionaljobsacrosstheeconomy,andsoatleastsomeofthesejobswouldbedrawnfromelsewhereintheeconomy.However,giventhatmanytradesandservicesrolesassociatedwithretrofitsareloworsemi-skilled,efficiencyinvestmentprovidessignificantscopeforexpandingopportunitiesforunemployedworkers.
Ongoing jobs supported through household savingsOngoingjobsaresupportedbyresourcesfreedupbyhouseholdsavings;moneynotbeingspentonenergybillswillbeavailableforspendingelsewhereintheeconomyandcreateongoingjobsbeyondthelifeofthedirectefficiencyinvestment.
(5)Theaverageannualhouseholdenergybillis$2800
(6)A5Starhomecancutbillsby40percentcomparedwithbusinessasusual100
CHAPTER 08APPENDICES
95Anderson2014,ibid.
96AmericanCouncilforanEnergyEfficientEconomy2011,‘Howdoesenergyefficiencycreatejobs?’,http://aceee.org/sites/default/files/pdf/fact-sheet/ee-job-creation.pdf
97Janssen,R.andD.Staniaszek2012,How many jobs? A survey of the employment impacts of investment in energy efficiency of buildings,EnergyEfficiencyIndustrialForum
98OECD2012,Energy: OECD Green Growth Studies,OECDPublishing,p.75.
99OECD2011,ibid.
100SustainabilityVictoria2014,Household Energy Report.
101Andersonet.al2014,ibid.
Author For region (A) Jobs/money (B) AUD investment [from (4)]
(C) PPP conversion99
(D) Regional equivalent [(B)/(C)]
(E) Jobs supported [(D)*(A)]
Anderson95 USA 11jobs/USD1m 960million 1.5 640million 7040
ACEEE96 USA 20jobs/USD1m 960million 1.5 640million 12,800
EEIF97 EU 19jobs/EUR1m 960million 2 480million 9120
OECD98 OECD 13jobs/USD1m 960million 1.44 667million 8667
Table 4.Estimatesofgrossjobsupportusinginternationalstudies.
55
(7)From(5)and(6):Averagehouseholdsavings=$1000peryear
(8)From(1)and(7):Annualconsumerbillenergysavings=$1.6billionperyear
Andersonet.al,(2014)estimatesanetgainof8jobsperUS$1millionofconsumersavings.101
(9)From(8)andTable4(PPPconversion):AU$1,600m/1.5*8=8,533ongoingjobs(net)beyondthelifeofthedirectefficiencyinvestment.
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