ACT Greens spokesperson for Planning, Caroline Le Couteur MLA, will introduce a bill this week designed to minimise the environmental and financial costs of hot water heating for ACT homes.

Under Ms Le Couteur’s bill, hot water systems installed in new ACT houses and townhouses will need to be low emission types such as solar, heat pump, or efficient gas. From next year, the efficiency standard will also apply to anyone replacing a hot water system in their existing house or townhouse.

“With the Government rebates currently available, efficient hot water systems are actually the most sensible economic choice right now,” Ms Le Couteur said.

“We can make significant and fast environmental gains just by introducing well targeted energy efficiency standards such as this one.”

“Water heating accounts for a quarter of the energy used in an average home and contributes 3% of Australia’s total Greenhouse Gas emissions.”

“Replacing an electric storage system with a gas-boosted solar system reduces the amount of energy used to heat water by around 95% – which reduces emissions and saves on energy bills.”

“Over the past few years, South Australia, Western Australia and Queensland have all implemented similar legislation.”

“My Bill will catch the ACT up to other States and encourage others into action.”

“The Federal Government has talked about regulating hot water efficiency for the last four years. There is no reason to delay introduction of a standard in the ACT any longer,” Ms Le Couteur said.

Greens lead candidate for Ginninderra, Meredith Hunter, today announced a plan to better utilise Federal funding allocated to the ACT for household energy efficiency.

“The ACT Greens Energy Efficiency Makeover plan will increase the roll out and scale, targeting houses below a 3-star rating,” Hunter said.

“The Greens are calling for the ACT Government to put $500,000 on the table now, to fund the plan that will put Canberra a step out in front and take full advantage of Federal funding.”

“Under the program, homes would have an expert assessment of what steps are needed to lift their energy rating, then the retrofit would be conducted by qualified tradespeople and installers.”

“This is an integrated program delivering a one-stop service for people to make their homes as energy efficient as possible.”

“Wall insulation, curtains and blinds, gap sealers, solar hot water and other efficiency measures will be paid for, over time, by reduced energy bills. The scheme will manage the debt by attaching it to the house, and organising repayments through energy bills”

The benefits for Canberra will include:

-For home owners it will mean houses that cost less to run and are worth more as an asset;
-For tenants it will mean a warmer home in winter, and cooler in summer;
-For local businesses it will be the chance to gear up for the eventual roll out of schemes like this across Australia.
-A dramatic drop in our greenhouse emissions, and the chance for Canberra to point the way for the rest of Australia.

“This program steps beyond the ad hoc rebates and subsidies offered by other parties, to make sure that the whole community is set up for a low energy future” Ms Hunter said.

An Energy Strategy, a strong renewable energy target, immediate moves for a renewable energy plant, and a focus on energy efficiency are the key elements of the ACT Greens Energy Initiative announced today by candidate for Molonglo, Shane Rattenbury.

“The ACT desperately needs an Energy Strategy. With an imperative to reduce greenhouse emissions, the likely introduction of an emissions trading scheme, and growing demand, the government needs a clear roadmap for how energy will be supplied in the future,” said Rattenbury.

“The Stanhope government promised in December 2004 to develop an Energy Strategy, and conducted extensive consultation in 2006, yet there is still nothing to show. Instead we are seeing ad hoc decision making on gas fired power stations, feed in tariffs and half hearted pre-feasibility studies for solar plants.”

“The Greens know of at least two consortia who are ready to go to build a solar thermal plant in the ACT, but the government has dragged the chain on this. Seeking bids from interested companies to establish a major renewable energy facility should start immediately after the election.”

Other key points in the initiative:
-A strong focus on energy efficiency. Cutting demand is an important part of the energy equation, and the most economic way to cut greenhouse emissions. Numerous studies and examples show that energy efficiency initiatives actually save money;
-The Energy Strategy must include a renewable energy target for the ACT. The Greens believe this should be at least 15% by 2012 and 25% by 2020. This would complement our previously announced initiative to have all government facilities purchasing 100% green power;
-Moving immediately to accept expressions of interest for a major renewable energy facility of at least 35MW. Market testing may see bids for even larger capacity.

“We live in an era where not having an Energy Strategy is simply irresponsible, and the Greens will seek to ensure this is rectified in the ACT as soon as possible,” concluded Rattenbury.

Candidate for Molonglo Shane Rattenbury has today launched the Greens Water policy, focussed on reducing water demand.

“The future predictions for our part Australia point to a hotter and drier climate. With increasing population, future water security will be dependant on managing demand for water, particularly increasing our water efficiency. The Greens are determined to work with Canberra households and businesses to tackle that,” said Rattenbury.

“In order to cut water use, the Greens want a funded program where a qualified plumber visits houses and undertakes maintenance and repairs such as fixing or replacing leaking hot water systems and pipes, installing dual flush toilet systems, fitting low flow taps, shower heads and other water savings devices.”

“Our target is to deliver this to 25,000 households over the next four years, around 20% of Canberra households. This program will cost approximately $8 million.”

We also want to investigate similar initiatives with the commercial sector.

Other key initiatives in the Greens water policy include:

-Replacing the current staged system of water restrictions with a permanent strategy to achieve water conservation targets;

-Establishing a Legislative Assembly Inquiry to consider the best options for ensuring a sustainable water supply in the ACT. During the current Assembly, Labor refused to support a Select Committee on this, and the Inquiry they did establish never reported before the Assembly finished;

-Accelerating the program to replace stormwater drains with urban creek and wetland systems, beginning with the completion of the Sullivans Creek wetland network;

-The new urban development of Molonglo to be built with a ‘third pipe’ installed at the same time as other infrastructure. The third pipe provides treated recycled water to recreational areas and all households for non-potable use;

-Encourage further uptake of urban water tanks by:
-Removing the requirement that they must be plumbed into houses to gain the rebate;
-Removing the planning stipulation that tanks can only be sited in the backyard or hidden from view; and
-Reviewing whether rebates need to be increased.

“This package of measures is designed to cut demand for water use, and ensure that Canberra has a secure water supply in to the future,” concluded Rattenbury.