14 July, 2010 – Australia could save more than $5 billion a year through cost-effective energy efficiency and use 40 per cent less energy if our economic output for each unit of energy was the same as that for the leading OECD countries, according to a new paper released by the Australian Alliance to Save Energy.
According to the “Policies for an energy-efficient Australia” platform paper, improving Australia’s energy-efficiency is the “easiest, cheapest and most effective way” to drive economic productivity, improve energy security and tackle climate change. Calling for a price to be set on carbon, the paper cites statistics that claim Australia would use 40 per cent less energy if our economic output for each unit of energy was the same as that for the leading OECD countries.
The paper comes after the Alliance submitted analysis of its energy-efficiency online discussion forum to the Prime Minister’s Task Group on Energy Efficiency
The Alliance has also started work to establish a “Parliamentary Friends of Energy Efficiency” group, which aims to increase the profile of energy efficiency with key politicians. With MP’s from all sides of the House involved in the formation group, the Alliance will hold regular events to inform parliamentarians and their advisors on aspects of the energy efficiency opportunity.
