First Fuel

In Episode 49 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by John Connor, CEO of the Carbon Market Institute.

Luke and John unpack this week’s blockbuster report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the big topics on the agenda for the upcoming UNFCCC Conference of Parties in Glasgow, and what Australia needs to do to step up to the climate challenge.

Mentioned in this episode:

Carbon Market Institute

https://carbonmarketinstitute.org

Climate Change 2021 The Physical Science Basis Summary for Policymakers (IPCC)

https://www.ipcc.ch/report/ar6/wg1/downloads/report/IPCC_AR6_WGI_SPM.pdf

CMI media release: IPCC report spotlights need for stronger Australian climate action and policies

https://carbonmarketinstitute.org/2021/08/09/ipcc-report-spotlights-need-for-stronger-australian-climate-action-and-policies/

Key topics:

Climate science

- Latest account of the physical science of climate change from the IPCC

- Implications for global mitigation efforts

Climate policy

- Drivers for increased ambition in climate targets

- Australia’s current policy settings and opportunities for further action

Connect with our guests:

Find John at https://twitter.com/jconnoroz

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

In Episode 48 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Frankie Muskovic, National Policy Manager for Sustainability and Regulatory Affairs at the Property Council of Australia.

Luke and Frankie discuss corporate net zero commitments, the challenge of decarbonising residual emissions in commercial buildings, and two policy processes that have the potential to drive a big uptick in the energy efficiency of Aussie homes.

Mentioned in this episode:

National Australian Built Environment Rating System

https://www.nabers.gov.au

Green Star

https://new.gbca.org.au/rate/green-star/

Climate Active

https://www.climateactive.org.au

Property Council submission to the Bushfire Royal Commission

https://www.propertycouncil.com.au/Web/Content/Submissions/National/2020/Property%20Council%20submission%20to%20Royal%20Commission%20into%20National%20Natural%20Disaster%20Arrangements.aspx

2020 Better Buildings Partnership Annual Report

https://www.betterbuildingspartnership.com.au/2020-bbp-annual-report-celebrating-ten-years-of-leadership/

National Construction Code 2022: Residential Energy Efficiency FAQ

https://www.abcb.gov.au/resource/guidance-materials/ncc-2022-residential-energy-efficiency

Key topics:

Decarbonising commercial buildings

- Procuring renewables to decarbonise electricity use

- Key residual emissions: gas, refrigerants, backup generators

- Decarbonisation pathways; electrification, hydrogen, biogas

Residential energy efficiency policy

- The role of disclosure of residential energy performance

- Proposed changes in the 2022 National Construction Code

Connect with our guests:

Find Frankie at https://twitter.com/FrankieMuskovic

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

In Episode 47 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Heidi Lee, CEO of Beyond Zero Emissions, an independent think tank focused on creating solutions for a prosperous net zero Australia.

Luke and Heidi discuss BZE’s history, the huge energy efficiency jobs opportunity highlighted by The Million Jobs Plan, and their latest research on Renewable Energy Industrial Precincts.

Mentioned in this episode:

The Million Jobs Plan

https://bze.org.au/research_release/million-jobs-plan/

Electrifying Industry

https://bze.org.au/research_release/electrifying-industry/

Renewable Energy Industrial Precincts

https://bze.org.au/research_release/renewable-energy-industrial-precincts/

Key topics:

Energy efficiency as economic stimulus

- Key research and analysis in Australia and overseas

- Role of building upgrades in net zero transition

Supporting industry to lower emissions

- Key technologies for electrifying manufacturing

- Enabling infrastructure for decarbonisation

- Integrating policy to drive a prosperous net zero Australia

Connect with our guests:

Find Heidi at https://twitter.com/heidileesays

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

In Episode 45 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Lauren Solomon, CEO of the Consumer Policy Research Centre, an independent think-tank focused on how markets can be designed to deliver better outcomes for consumers.

Luke and Lauren discuss whether the ‘consumer-centric’ energy transition is rhetoric or reality, how to build the trust that will underpin new energy service business models, and emerging challenges for consumers in the energy space, and how they can be addressed.

Mentioned in this episode:

Consumer Policy Research Centre

https://cprc.org.au

First Fuel Episode 7: Technology and trust with Rosemary Sinclair AM

https://anchor.fm/energy-efficiency-council/episodes/7-Technology-and-trust-with-Rosemary-Sinclair-AM-ef9idi/a-a2eiajm

Key topics:

Implications of energy transition for consumers

- Role of regulators in establishing ‘guard rails’ in emerging markets

- Trust as an enabler for energy service business models that rely on aggregation

- Increasing interaction between regulatory frameworks (building codes and energy markets)

Connect with our guests:

Find Lauren Solomon at https://twitter.com/__laurensolomon

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

In Episode 44 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Corey Diamond, Executive Director at Efficiency Canada, Canada's national voice for an energy efficient economy.

Luke and Corey discuss the drivers for energy efficiency policy in Canada, the Canadian Government's recent, multi-billion dollar investments in energy efficiency across buildings and industry, and how Australia and Canada can work together to unlock their 'common wealth': the untapped energy efficiency resource that exists in both nations.

Mentioned in this episode:

Efficiency Canada

https://www.efficiencycanada.org

ACEEE’s International Energy Efficiency Scorecard

https://www.aceee.org/portal/national-policy/international-scorecard

First Fuel Episode 22: Presidents and policies with Steve Nadel

https://anchor.fm/energy-efficiency-council/episodes/22-Presidents-and-policies-with-Steve-Nadel-ek350i

Prime Minister Trudeau and Carleton’s Efficiency Canada announce Greener Homes initiative

https://charlatan.ca/2021/05/prime-minister-trudeau-and-carletons-efficiency-canada-announce-greener-homes-initiative/

$2 Billion for Commercial Building Retrofits from Canada Infrastructure Bank

https://www.efficiencycanada.org/everything-you-need-to-know-about-energy-efficiency-in-todays-canada-infrastructure-bank-cib-announcement/

Overview of Canada’s industry decarbonisation funding measures

https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=fe0413df-7c75-4ac2-a0f9-c9c0157083f9

Key topics:

Energy efficiency policy in Canada

- Pre-pandemic policy settings

- Role of carbon pricing in public debate

New climate and economic stimulus measures

- Residential building upgrades

- Commercial building upgrades

- Net zero accelerator for industry

Comparing Australia and Canada

- Policy and performance

- Opportunities for collaboration

Connect with our guest:

Find Efficiency Canada at https://twitter.com/EfficiencyCAN

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

In Episode 43 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Jarrod Leak, CEO of the Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity.

Luke and Jarrod begin by discussing his transition from an executive role in the private sector to leading a not-for-profit. Then they dig into some of the big energy productivity and emissions reduction opportunities in the industrial sector: metering, process heat and compressed air.

Mentioned in this episode:

Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity

https://www.a2ep.org.au

RACE for 2030

https://www.racefor2030.com.au

Key topics:

Industrial energy productivity and decarbonisation

- The role of metering and sub metering in building business cases for energy performance upgrades

- Technology options for reducing emissions from process heat

- Dealing with the energy intensity of compressed air: efficiency, and alternatives 

Connect with our guests:

Find Jarrod at https://twitter.com/DoMoreUseLess

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

In Episode 42 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Alyssa Fischer, an energy policy analyst specialising in energy efficiency at the International Energy Agency. 

Luke and Alyssa discuss her recent op-ed on the role of energy efficiency in achieving net zero, why the transition to renewables doesn’t mean we can disregard energy efficiency and the role energy efficiency in the economic recovery plans rolling out around the world.

Mentioned in this episode:

How Energy Efficiency Will Power Net-Zero Climate Goals (Alyssa’s op-ed)

https://www.iea.org/commentaries/how-energy-efficiency-will-power-net-zero-climate-goals

World Energy Outlook 2020 (IEA)

https://www.iea.org/reports/world-energy-outlook-2020

Net Zero in 2050: A roadmap for the global energy system (IEA, launching 18 May)

https://www.iea.org/events/net-zero-in-2050-a-roadmap-for-the-global-energy-system

First Fuel Episode 10: Swiss army knife of stimulus with Michael Liebreich

https://anchor.fm/energy-efficiency-council/episodes/10-Swiss-army-knife-of-stimulus-with-Michael-Liebreich-eg6rvm

First Fuel Episode 34: Market impacts with Jeremy Sung

https://anchor.fm/energy-efficiency-council/episodes/34-Market-impacts-with-Jeremy-Sung-ent7vl

Energy Efficiency 2020 (IEA)

https://www.iea.org/reports/energy-efficiency-2020

Renovation Wave: doubling the renovation rate to cut emissions, boost recovery and reduce energy poverty (European Commission)

https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_20_1835

Heat pump rollout target (UK)

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/pm-outlines-his-ten-point-plan-for-a-green-industrial-revolution-for-250000-jobs

Deep retrofit funding (Canada)

https://www.canada.ca/en/department-finance/news/2021/04/budget-2021-a-healthy-environment-for-a-healthy-economy.html

Key topics:

IEA modelling for net zero emissions

- Scenarios for carbon reduction; role of energy efficiency; interaction with decarbonising energy system

Curent market trends

Lagging energy performance improvement; implications for

COVID recovery plans

Role of energy efficiency in economic recovery plans (EU, UK, US, Canada)

Connect with our guests:

Find Alyssa at https://twitter.com/alyshafisha

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

In Episode 41 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Dian Grueneich, Precourt Energy Scholar with Stanford University’s Precourt Institute for Energy. Luke and Dian discuss the detail of the Biden Administration's climate policies, the likelihood of proposed measures passing through Congress, what the US expects from allies like Australia in the lead up to the next big global climate summit in Glasgow.

Mentioned in this episode:

‘My Shot’, from Hamilton: An American Musical

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ic7NqP_YGlg

Leaders Summit on Climate

https://www.state.gov/leaders-summit-on-climate/

The American Jobs Plan

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/03/31/fact-sheet-the-american-jobs-plan/

International Energy Agency commentary: Gap between climate rhetoric and action is highlighted at US Climate Leaders’ Summit

https://tinyurl.com/2n4eat67

Key topics addressed:

US climate policy

- Domestic agenda; global stance; institutional barriers to implementation

Global climate policy

- Drivers for interim carbon targets; carbon border adjustment mechanism

Australian climate policy

- Implications of raised global ambition for Australian targets

Connect with our guests:

Find Dian at https://twitter.com/DianGrueneich

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

In Episode 40 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Katie McKenzie. Katie is President of the Australian Institute of Energy, Managing Director of Macht Consulting and has just concluded four years as Principal Policy Advisor to two successive energy ministers in the McGowan Government in Western Australia.

Luke and Katie discuss the particular opportunities and challenges facing Western Australia on energy and climate, Katie’s work as a member of Western Australia’s Energy Transformation Task Force, and what she learnt in her four years as a ministerial advisor.

Mentioned in this episode:

Western Australia’s Energy Transformation Strategy

https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/energy-policy-wa/energy-transformation-strategy

Australian Industry Energy Transitions Initiative

https://energytransitionsinitiative.org

Australian Institute of Energy

https://www.aie.org.au

ClimateLaunchpad

https://climate-kic.org.au/our-programs/launchpad/

Connect with our guests:

Find Katie at https://twitter.com/KatieMac_llb

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