Page 26 - Climate Control News Magazine March 2019

For most Australian businesses its about boosting profits and improving energy productivity. supporting
Constructing a zero carbon
future makes good business sense
WHILE ICELAND GENERATES 100 PER CENT OF ITS ELECTRICITY FROM RENEWABLE RESOURCES AND COSTA RICA IS SET TO BE THE FIRST CARBON- NEUTRAL COUNTRY IN THE WORLD, AUSTRALIA CONTINUES TO LAG BEHIND THE REST OF THE WORLD WHEN IT COMES TO ENERGY EFFICIENCY.
FOR MOST AUSTRALIAN businesses, which spend about 15 per cent of their operating expenditure on energy, this issue isn't just about climate change.
Its about boosting profits and im- proving energy productivity. It makes good busi- ness sense to be as energy efficient as possible – from reducing HVAC costs to reviewing power purchasing agreements for wind and solar pow-
er – it's about getting more bang for your buck.
One area in need of massive im- provement is the energy performance of Australia's building stock. News that state and territory energy minis- ters have agreed to support a Trajec- tory for Low Energy Buildings was welcomed by the Australian Sustain-
able Built Environment Council (ASBEC) and ClimateWorks Australia last month.
The ‘Trajectory’ proposes a pathway towards “zero energy (and carbon) ready buildings”, in- creases to the energy efficiency provisions in the National Construction Code (NCC) and further consideration of options for existing buildings.
ASBEC executive director Suzanne Toum- bourou said more energy efficient homes and commercial buildings can deliver more resilience to extreme weather, better comfort and reduce stress on
the electricity grid.
She said the energy performance of
buildings isn’t just about energy bills and comfort.
“Almost all buildings built today will still be operating in 2050, at a time
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