A Greens Bill to establish a world-leading scheme to upgrade the energy efficiency of Australia's non-residential buildings such as offices, shopping centres, hotels and schools has received positive support from many experts, but been treated with studied disinterest by both Labor and Coalition Senators at a Senate inquiry.

The Energy Efficient Non-Residential Buildings Scheme, developed from an idea from Lend Lease, WSP Lincolne Scott and Advanced Environmental, would establish a cap and trade scheme for building energy efficiency, ensuring that all of Australia's non-residential buildings are upgraded as swiftly and fairly as possible.

"This Senate Inquiry has overwhelmingly confirmed the need for robust policies to improve the energy efficiency of Australia's non-residential buildings," Senator Milne said.

"Everyone who came before the committee agreed that a carbon price will not be enough to achieve the incredible cost savings and emissions savings that will ultimately accrue from taking decisive action to upgrade our non-residential buildings for energy efficiency.

"The Greens bill is a groundbreaking approach that would ultimately benefit both building owners and occupants with lower energy bills and healthier environments, and all of us through reduced pollution and increased productivity."

Support for the bill was received from international experts and organisations such as the World Business Council for Sustainable Development's Energy Efficiency in Buildings Project; RAND Corporation, one of America's oldest research institutes; and Dr David Vincent, Projects Director, Carbon Trust - an independent company set up by the UK Government to accelerate the move to a low carbon economy.

"It is disappointing, however, that the Economics Legislation Committee, dominated by the government, does not have a culture of trying to achieve a consensus and that the Chair failed to circulate comments on her draft that sought to achieve consensus.

"As a result, in several areas the Committee's report fails to represent the evidence received and fails to capture the essence of the arguments relating to the bill.

"From the Greens point of view, a key outcome of the inquiry was that amongst all the submissions to the inquiry, there was no substantive rebuttal of the very simple method of assessing building energy intensity based on the reporting of electricity and gas bills.

"The government's plan for mandatory disclosure of energy performance when buildings are sold or let is a small step in the right direction, but the government would be well advised to look at stronger policies with such clear support both in Australia and overseas.

"Regardless of the cavalier manner with which the Committee treated this bill, the Greens will continue to pursue this legislation until such important measures are in place."

Senator Milne's Dissenting Report to the Committee is here.

Information on the bill is available at: http://christine-milne.greensmps.org.au/content/media-release/greens-int...

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Efficient Building Scheme Sen Inq Dissenting Rpt.pdf	17/03/10 6:01 pm	61.56 KB