“Some people see engineers with the hard hat and roll of blueprints, some can’t see past civil engineering, “ he told The Fifth Estate.

“Australia is a little bit behind in implementation of a lot of projects – Germany is leading us by miles when it comes to solar energy –  ridiculous in such as sunny country.

“I am disappointed that Australia is behind the eight ball, a lot of technology is sent overseas. We don’t have the people interested in these sort of projects. Australia doesn’t have old money, companies are reluctant to risk their capital. If we had more of that going on there would be a much more obvious career path.

“Everyone knows about climate change, but people are not so familiar with what sustainable solutions are. They entail significant amounts of engineering.”

To broaden the students perspective on energy efficiency engineering and the potential savings, student’s at O’Keefe’s Griffith University where recently asked to perform an energy audit on their home.

“I see pennies dropping in classes when students discover just how broad the opportunities are. They become passionate about areas they really care about: making diesel engines run more efficiently, minimising fossil fuel usage, working on buildings,  making better solar panels and better turbine technology, solid state lighting and energy auditing”.

Whilst this reaction is positive, their are still many barriers stopping Australian students from taking the lead in sustainability engineering.

“Maybe the sustainability side is not promoted enough,” says O’Keefe. “We need lateral solutions of getting the message across. Educating in and out of school, more presence on the internet.”

“When we do talk about sustainable energy most students said they wanted to make a difference.  It also needs to be part of the national school curricula.”

Original Article:

http://www.thefifthestate.com.au/archives/30997

National Australia Bank (NAB) has partnered with Low Carbon Australia Limited to develop a finance product that encourages commercial property owners to carry out sustainability upgrades through EUAs.

The building owners of 123 Queen Street, Melbourne will use the EUA to fund the implementation of energy efficiency measures which will result in the building’s NABERs rating increasing from two to four stars.

- Contact CarbonetiX about upgrading your NABERs rating -

NAB’s Head of Property Finance, Andrew Balzan said that NAB is pleased to be a part of pioneering Australia’s environmental finance market.

“NAB has worked extensively with the City of Melbourne to successfully legislate this new initiative, the key component of which is the partnership between building owners, tenants, councils, solution providers and capital providers.

“The signing of 123 Queen Street in Melbourne signals the first privately funded EUA. It is the first product of its kind in Australia, with legislation now implemented in parts of NSW and Victoria,” Mr Balzan said.

CEO of Low Carbon Australia, Ms Mcdonald, said: “This is a major milestone for low carbon finance in the Australian property sector. We are excited to be involved in the finance solutions readily available to building owners who wish to progress now to retro fit their properties and start capturing energy savings and reducing carbon emissions.”

City of Melbourne Eco-City Councillor Cathy Oke said the signing marked an important milestone.

“We know that access to affordable capital is a major barrier in retrofitting commercial buildings. This innovative financial mechanism removes this barrier and equips building owners with the financial tools they need. I’m confident we will see many more signings like it in the future,” Cr Oke said.

The NAB Environmental Upgrade Funding will be funding individual projects from $250,000 to $10 million.

CarbonetiX have significant experience working with private and public funding bodies and can help you secure finance for energy efficiency retrofittings in commercial buildings.

Our qualified NABERs certified engineering staff can consult, assess and  project manage commercial building energy efficiency projects.

- Contact us to discuss an energy efficiency retrofit of your commercial building -

Bayview Apartments’ owner corporation MiCM Property has now won the 2011 Carbonetix Managed Property Energy Efficiency Award.

The block of 270 apartments was running up bills of $12,000 every month, which have been slashed to $6000.

As a former electrician, Mr Brown pushed for change which has now saved owner/occupiers thousands in body corporate fees.

“We have decreased the body corporate fees through the energy savings we are making and these can be reduced further because it covers a lot more than electricity,” Mr Brown said.“We haven’t even touched gas and water yet where there can be savings.”

Carbonetix spokesman Peter Lambert said through a range of measures the block had reduced running costs substantially and was avoiding 92 tonnes of carbon pollution every year.

***Full Article from the Port Phillip Leader 13 Dec 2011 by Sally Spalding found here***

The project was undertaken with support from the Port Phillip City Council SOCs and Blocks program.

The biggest breakthrough was that the world’s largest emitters – India, China and the U.S. – have agreed to come back to the negotiating table in 2015.  The goal of the 2015 talks will be for an “agreed outcome with legal force.”  This agreed outcome is earmarked to take effect in 2020 and would include both developing and developed countries.

Many are quick to point out that this preliminary agreement is non-binding.  Indeed, the outcome at Durban is essentially a geopolitical rain-cheque.  But the time frame for future discussions is not that long.  In a space where countries outline emissions targets for 2200 and scientific reports feature predictions about the year 3000, a mere four-year hiatus is a pretty good result.

Between now and 2015, the outcome at Durban should drive domestic political support in democratic countries.  Many of those in public life here and abroad firmly took the position that restricting emissions is economically irresponsible unless other economies came to the table.  The result in Durban should help us do away with this mentality and become more internationally engaged.

This combined with the gas boom in Russia and continued growth of the renewables sector should only make an agreement in 2015 less pain full for all involved.

Of course a firmer result would have been better.  But for now the outcome at Durbin it is as good an outcome as we have seen from talks of this magnitude.

One must accept that climate change will continue to test the power of global political institutions for many years to come.  We must draw positives where possible and hope that 2015 brings further progress.

“The City of Sydney’s Sustainable Sydney 2030 presents a bold and compelling vision for how this centrally located area will tackle climate change, global competition, transportation congestion, and half a dozen other major challenges over the next 20 years,” the OECD report says.

“The Council of the City aspires to be a global leader and through leadership of the Lord Mayor and its Sustainable Sydney 2030 framework, the city has articulated a vision for a global, green and connected city.”

Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the City’s long term plans to tackle climate change started seven years ago with an unprecedented community consultation.

“People said they wanted us to tackle climate change, cut traffic congestion and reconnect Sydney to its harbour and surrounding villages – that overwhelming community consensus has now received international support and recognition,” the Lord Mayor said.

“Sydney has extraordinary potential to pursue economic growth and wealth with lower carbon emissions, the report’s authors say, and while our work at the City was highlighted, it’s time local strategies and activities were coordinated right across the metropolitan area.”

The OECD report Climate Change, Employment and Local Development looked at how cities and regions are creating green jobs and developing a skilled workforce to meet the needs of a greener economy.

According to the report, Sydney’s strengths for the green economy include:

• Dense networks of globally competitive firms with strong links to the Asia-Pacific region, particularly in finance and business services
• A strong awareness about the threat of global warming and the need for concerted action
• An advanced economy with strong research, technological capabilities and skills base
• A globally recognised higher education and vocational education and training system
• Well-developed infrastructure, outstanding amenities and living environment that is attractive to mobile knowledge workers.

The report said a snapshot of Australia’s green potential suggested more than 100,000 new jobs have already been created in environmental protection industries, clean-tech companies, eco-tourism, waste disposal, environmental science and the recycling sector, contributing around $65 billion to the economy.

Read full article: http://www.investinaustralia.com/news/sydney%E2%80%99s-green-economy-gets-oecd-stamp-approval-34m5

Funding type:

CEEP Funding Projects

CarbonetiX are now taking purchase orders for CEEP specific building energy audits and project outline assistance.  All our audits and project outlines include a level of guaranteed energy savings, allowing you to demonstrate guaranteed financial return on your CEEP application.  To learn more visit carbonetix.com.au/ceep

About CEEP

The Community Energy Efficiency Program (CEEP) provides funding to local governments for energy efficiency projects.  Local councils can apply for up to $5 million to cover half the project cost of an upgrade to existing non-residential buildings.

CarbonetiX have identified a number of energy saving opportunities in local government buildings, including town halls, leisure centres and office buildings.  We are already working with proactive councils to construct a business case for grant applications.

Funding applications close on 23rd March, so be quick!  Speak to CarbonetiX about an energy efficiency upgrade project today.

CEEP Facts sheet

CEEP application criteria

Move now to secure your funding! – Contact CarbonetiX

Funding type:

Low Carbon Australia Limited (LCAL) provides financing to businesses, building owners and local councils.  The funds provided are to implement investment-ready energy and carbon saving upgrades.

Since 2002, CarbonetiX have been identifying and implementing energy efficiency upgrades in government and commercial buildings.  Our focus has always been on providing a strong economic return for such investment.

local governments and businesses can invest in energy efficiency upgrades with no out of pocketThe experience of our engineers and the financing from LCAL will allow organisations to cost effectively reduce energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions by 20-40%.  In most cases, the savings on energy will cover the loan repayments.

In otherwords, local governments and businesses can invest in energy efficiency upgrades with no out of pocket and end up with buildings that cost far less to run.  CarbonetiX are even willing to guarantee the reductions in energy costs with an energy performance contract.

Speak to CarbonetiX to arrange an energy audit, quote on implementing energy efficiency works and help constructing a business case for the financing application.

Ph 1300 311 763
Message CarbonetiX

The VEET scheme is a Victorian Government initiative promoted as the Energy Saver Incentive. It commenced on 1 January 2009 and is administered by the Essential Services Commission (ESC).  The scheme was established under the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target Act 2007 and is administered in accordance with the Victorian Energy Efficiency Target Regulations 2008.

The VEET scheme is designed to make energy efficiency improvements more affordable, contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gases, and encourage investment, employment and innovation in industries that supply energy efficiency goods and services.

Under the scheme, accredited businesses can offer discounts and special offers on selected energy saving products and appliances installed at homes, businesses or other non-residential premises. The bigger the greenhouse gas reduction, the bigger the potential saving.

This award recognises the owner’s corporation’s continued efforts to reduce energy consumption in the common areas of the Bayview Apartment Complex.  The owner’s corporation committee is managed by MiCM Property.

Through a range of measures including LED lighting upgrades, delamping and other projects such as an automatic pool cover, energy consumption has been reduced by an impressive 53% in the last four years.  This has not only reduced running and maintenance costs substantially, but is avoiding 920 tonnes of carbon pollution each year.

CarbonetiX has undertaken energy efficiency projects at a range of residential, commercial and industrial sites.  We understand the challenges energy efficiency projects throw at management and know that a 53% reduction is only possible with strong and dedicated leadership.  The award makes special mention of both committee member Steve Brown and the MiCM management team and for their driving force and long-term sustainability vision for the Bayview Apartments.

The Port Phillip Council should also be very proud of the support they have given projects such as this.  They are true sustainability  leaders and a model of local governance.

Bayview Apartment’s outstanding achievement demonstrates that energy efficiency not only reduces cost overheads, but also benefits the environment, which benefits the wider community.  Congratulations to all involved and keep up the great work.

According to the nobel prize winning panel, climate scientists are 99% certain that there will be more extreme heat in the future, which will cause increased precipitation in the form of heavy rainstorms.

“By the end of the century, the intense, single-day rainstorms that typically happen once every 20 years will probably happen about twice a decade” the report said.

And there’s an 80 percent chance that the killer Russian heat wave of 2010 would not have happened without the added push of global warming, according to a study published last week in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

A large part of the resistance to climate action comes from individuals inability to physically experience the 1-2 degree increases in global temperatures.  At the margin, such changes in temperature are difficult to “feel”.  This report highlights the real dangers of climate inaction lies at the extremities of weather events.

Australia has always been a country prone to natural disasters, including strong rain storms in the tropical north-east.  We hope this new report will act as further evidence of the economic and social costs of climate inaction.