COAG Agrees on Energy Efficiency

In Darwin yesterday, the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) signed the National Partnership Agreement on Energy Efficiency. The package aims to deliver ‘a nationally-consistent and cooperative approach to energy efficiency’ and includes:

• Financial and other assistance to households to reduce energy use;
• Assistance to business and industry to ‘pursue cost-effective energy efficiency opportunities’;
• Energy efficiency standards for residential and commercial buildings, appliances and equipment;
• New air conditoner standards to start in 2010;
• A review of regulation to ensure that it is encouraging demand side abatement and smart grid technologies; and
• Consideration of vehicle efficiency measures.