Last month's National Efficiency Schemes Summit was the first of its kind: a national event bringing together participants in all Australia's state efficiency schemes – a remarkable fact by Energy Savings Industry Association President Rod Woolley.

That industry and government, NGOs and consumer groups from right around Australia had never gathered in one room before before to discuss the schemes was, as Luke says, “kind of bananas.” So with the stage lights still warm, we sat down with three key participants to discuss what the day meant and will continue to mean as Australia's schemes mature and diversify to keep pace with our changing energy systems.

Joining Luke to get out of the weeds and talk scheme strategy and impact are Caroline Bennett, CEO of Green Energy and Carbon Management, Steve Procter from the NSW Office of Energy and Climate Change, and Climateworks Centre's Anna Malos.

For more info on the Summit, head to eec.org.au/ness23.

Earlier this month, some of Australia’s biggest companies released a statement to say that even our heaviest industries can transition their supply chains to net zero emissions, and they’re prepared to put the work in.

It won’t be easy, and the pathway is narrow. But thanks to the work of the Australian Industry Energy Transition Initiative, it’s possible.

In Episode 86 of First Fuel, EEC CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Orica’s Head of Sustainability Troy Powell and Industry Lead at Climateworks Centre, Rob Kelly, to discuss the Energy Transition Initiative and the opportunities it presents to Australian industry.

Read all publications from the Australian Energy Transition Initiative here.

Connect with our guests:

⁠Find Troy here⁠.

Find Rob here.

 
Connect with us:

⁠Find Luke on Twitter here ⁠

Find out more about the Energy Efficiency Council at ⁠eec.org.au⁠

⁠Follow us on Twitter⁠.

⁠Email us at [email protected]⁠

Along with ambitious commitments to renewable energy, the Albanese Government has set its sights on decarbonisation and energy efficiency, putting the nation's energy policy wonks to work over the summer.

In Episode 85 of First Fuel, EEC CEO Luke Menzel and EEC Acting Head of Policy Alex St John (a man who in his own words, “skews wonk”) discuss the “Summer of Submissions”.

Luke and Alex unpack the EEC's thoughts on the proposed ⁠National Energy Performance

Connect with our guests:

Find Alex here.

Connect with us:

Find Luke on Twitter here

Find out more about the Energy Efficiency Council at eec.org.au

Follow us on Twitter.

Email us at [email protected]

If they don’t already have one, developing a net zero plan is high on the priority list for all Australian businesses. But as most now know, the real job isn’t developing a plan, but putting that plan to work.

In Episode 84 of First Fuel, EEC CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Kate Levick, co-head of the UK Transition Planning Taskforce Secretariat.

The Transition Plan Taskforce was formed when, in a speech at Glasgow’s COP26, Britain’s then-Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced that listed companies in the UK would be asked to disclose their transition plans by 2023.

Speaking one year on at COP27 in Egypt, Luke and Kate discuss the Taskforce’s role in defining what best practice business transitions look like; how companies across sectors can ensure the best chance of a successful transition; and what Australian government and businesses can learn from the UK experience so far.

Mentioned in this episode:

Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures

The Transition Plan Taskforce Disclosure Framework

The Transition Plan Taskforce Implementation Guidance

TPT Online Sandbox

Key topics:

What is the UK’s Transition Plan Task Force?

What do we mean when we say a transition plan?

The link between financial disclosure and transition plans

Lessons for Australia and the rest of the world

Connect with our guests:

Find Kate at https://twitter.com/katellevick

Find the TPT at https://transitiontaskforce.net/

Connect with us:

Find Luke at https://twitter.com/lukemenzel

Find out more about the Energy Efficiency Council at www.eec.org.au

Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/EECouncil

Email us at [email protected]

To find out how you can listen to an upcoming episode of First Fuel live, visit www.eec.org.au/podcasts

Episode 83: Heavy industry, lighter loads: competitiveness through efficiency panel from 2022 Energy Efficiency Summit

This week’s episode of First Fuel is a recording of our panel titled ‘Heavy industry, lighter loads: competitiveness through efficiency’ from the 2022 National Energy Efficiency Summit.

In this panel, speakers Holly Taylor (Chair), Head of Projects, Energy Efficiency Council was joined by Jon Jutsen, CEO, RACE for 2030; Sharon Champness, Manager HR Safety and Environment, Molycop; andAlison Reeve, Energy and Climate Deputy Program Director, Grattan Institute.

The panel discusses the big energy productivity opportunities available in Australia’s industrial sector and the support, skills and policy settings we will need to unlock it.

You can watch a video version of this panel and all our panels from the 2022 National Energy Efficiency Summit at eec.org.au/summit22

Key topics:

‘Easy wins’ for energy efficiency in industry

CRC’s work in decarbonising the industrial sector

Policy signals for incentivising investment

What an industrial energy efficiency strategy needs to have (and not have)

Jobs and skills needed for the energy transition

Connect with us

Find Luke at https://twitter.com/lukemenzel

To find out how you can listen to an upcoming episode of First Fuel live, visit www.eec.org.au/podcasts

This week’s episode of First Fuel is a recording of our panel titled ‘Batteries of the nation: zero emissions commercial buildings’ from the 2022 National Energy Efficiency Summit.

In this panel, Francesca Muskovic, National Policy Director of Property Council of Australia, was joined by: Davina Rooney, CEO, Green Building Council of Australia; Carlos Flores, Director, NABERs; and David Palin, Sustainability Manager, Mirvac.

This expert panel considers what has been achieved on energy efficiency in Australia’s commercial building sector and how much more there is to do: driving decarbonisation outside the office sector, helping commercial buildings transition from gas to heat pumps, and making sure that commercial buildings are playing there part in a high penetration renewable grid.

You can watch a video version of this panel and all our panels from the 2022 National Energy Efficiency Summit at eec.org.au/summit22

Key topics:

State of play for commercial building efficiency in Australia

The challenge of residual gas use in commercial buildings

Smart integration of all electric buildings into a renewable grid

The case for a national energy saving target

Connect with us

Find Luke at https://twitter.com/lukemenzel

To find out how you can listen to an upcoming episode of First Fuel live, visit www.eec.org.au/podcasts

This week’s episode of First Fuel is a recording of our panel titled ‘Efficient, Electric and affordable: Creating better homes,’ from the 2022 National Energy Efficiency Summit.

In this panel, Program Director of Climate and Energy at ACOSS, Kellie Caught, was joined by: Vanessa Davis, Researcher, Tagentyere Council; Margot Delafoulhouze, Systems Lead - Cities, Climateworks Centre; and Ben Milsom, co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Plenti.

In a wide-ranging session, this expert panel discuss the huge positive impacts of energy efficiency and standardisation on residential homes, particularly on social and low income housing, and those in remote parts of Australia, where energy poverty can create literally life threatening circumstances.

You can watch a video version of this panel and all our panels from the 2022 National Energy Efficiency Summit at eec.org.au/summit22

Key topics:

Connect with us

Find Luke at https://twitter.com/lukemenzel

To find out how you can listen to an upcoming episode of First Fuel live, visit www.eec.org.au/podcasts

This episode of First Fuel is a recording of the Leaders Panel at the 2022 National Energy Efficiency Summit. Delivered in person from Sydney, and streamed to  a national online audience, the Summit brought together government, global experts, prominent consumer advocates and our largest industry associations for a unique, economy-wide discussion on the role of energy efficiency in this moment and beyond. 

In this panel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel was joined by: Edwina MacDonald, Acting CEO, ACOSS; Innes Willox, Chief Executive, Ai Group; Ken Morrison, Chief Executive, Property Council of Australia, Senator the Hon Jenny McAllister; and California Energy Commissioner Andrew McAllister.

You can watch a video version of this panel and all our panels from the 2022 National Energy Efficiency Summit at eec.org.au/summit22

Key topics:

Connect with us

Find Luke at https://twitter.com/lukemenzel

Recorded in front of an intimate live audience in Melbourne on the eve of the 2022 Energy Efficiency Summit, episode 79 features Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel in conversation with California Energy Commissioner Andrew McAllister.

This was Commissioner McAllister’s first visit to Australia in five years, and this fascinating and wide-ranging discussion range from what compelled Ronald Reagan to make energy efficiency central to California’s policy in the 1970s, through to why “the matching of supply and demand is the concept of our time.”

Mentioned in this episode:

California’s Warren-Alquist Act

Key topics:

Connect with our guest:

Find the California Energy Commission at https://twitter.com/calenergyConnect with us:

In Episode 78 of First Fuel we bring you a panel discussion from the launch of the Energy Efficiency Council’s sector spotlight on energy management opportunities for Australian farms, released in partnership with the National Farmers Federation in late 2021.

Luke Menzel, CEO of the EEC is joined by Ash Salardini, Chief Economist at NFF, Edwina Beveridge, Blantyre Farms; Dean Cayley, Cayley Farms; and Karin Stark, the founder of the National Renewables in Agriculture Conference. This fantastic panel digs into how the leaders in the Aussie farm sector are approaching smart energy management.

Mentioned in this episode:

Navigating a dynamic energy landscape: A briefing for farms

Connect with us:

Find Luke at https://twitter.com/lukemenzel

Find out more about the Energy Efficiency Council at www.eec.org.au

Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/EECouncil

Email us at [email protected]

To find out how you can listen to an upcoming episode of First Fuel live, visit www.eec.org.au/podcasts