Green Start

The Green Start Program offers grants to organisations that perform household energy assessments. The goal is to educate families from low socioeconomic areas in ways to improve their household energy ratings and reduce their greenhouse gas emissions. Green Start aims to increase Australian community’s participation in sustainable living practices.

http://www.climatechange.gov.au/en/government/programs-and-rebates/greenstart.aspx

Home Sustainability Assessments

To reduce the energy consumption of Australian households, qualified assessors are available to visit homes and advise families on energy efficient practices. Assessors will examine major energy and water systems, such as lighting, water heating, refrigeration and entertainment as well as submitting a report recommending changes and/or actions to be implemented. Home assessments are free and generally take one to two hours.

http://www.climatechange.gov.au/government/programs-and-rebates/green-loans/homes.aspx

NABERS

NABERS -The National Australian Built Environment Rating System, is a performance-based rating system applicable to existing commercial and residential buildings. NABERS measures a building’s environmental impacts such as energy, water and waste. NABERS assessors educate building owners or occupants ways to manage or reduce their environmental impacts. NABERS ratings are publicly available and included on property signs when leased or up for sale.

www.nabers.com.au

National Framework for Energy Efficiency (NFEE)

The National Framework for Energy Efficiency ensures the Australian market is receiving its full economic potential of energy efficiency. The NFEE has two stages; the first consists of nine policy packages that focus on extending or developing current energy efficiency measures. The second package focuses on new energy efficiency measures, including MEPS and Halogen Phase Out (see below).

http://www.ret.gov.au/Documents/mce/energy-eff/nfee/default.html

Halogen Phase Out

The Australian Government is gradually phasing out all inefficient sources of light and replacing them with energy efficient types, such as LEDs and CFLs. To achieve this, the government has introduced minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for all lighting products and placed a restriction on imports of incandescent lights. The Halogen Phase Out will deliver considerable savings to the environment and the economy as well as reducing green house gas emissions. As a result, energy efficient types of lighting will be made more available and encouraged in a mass market.

http://www.climatechange.gov.au/en/what-you-need-to-know/lighting.aspx

MEPS

Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) are included on products so consumers can recognize energy efficient products. Since implemented in 1999, MEPS has increased energy efficiency ratings across a range of appliances and equipment. Products manufactured in Australia or imported here must meet Australian MEPS or face execution from the market.