Energy

In December 2004, the Ministerial Council on Energy endorsed the implementation of a National Framework for Energy Efficiency (NFEE) as a mechanism for coordinated national action on future direction of energy efficiency policy and programs in Australia.

The Framework aims to unlock the significant but un-tapped economic potential associated with the increased uptake of energy efficient technologies and processes across the Australian economy.

The Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism contributes to the development of the Framework, in conjunction with officials from State, Territory and Commonwealth energy agencies, and has responsibility under Stage One of NFEE for delivering the Commercial and Industrial implementation and Capacity Building Implementation Plans.

Stage Two of NFEE, which commenced in July 2008, will see the delivery of five new energy efficiency measures as follows:

• Expanding and enhancing the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) program.
• The heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) high efficiency systems strategy.
• Phase-out of inefficient incandescent lighting.
• Government leadership though green leases.
• The development of measures for a national hot water strategy, for later consideration.

The Department is taking the lead on an additional project under NFEE Stage Two, the energy efficiency data gathering and analysis project, to inform the future development and evaluation of energy efficiency policies.