In recent months the Federal Government has pushed for greener industries, with funding initiatives for small businesses and legislation for big business.
Small business receives funding for green initiatives
In a statement dated 21 May 2007, Federal Small Business Minister Fran Bailey unveiled over $8 million in funding towards training small business in "green" initiatives such as recycling and energy efficiency.
Ms Bailey encourages training provides to apply for funding as it could:
- help small business achieve substantial cost savings
- help more small businesses to go green; and
- open up new sales opportunities for small business in the booming field of environmental management and services.
According to Ms Bailey, the funding is available under the Federal Government's Building Entrepreneurship in Small Business program, which provides funding from an estimated $100,000 to $300,000 to service providers.
Further information on the Building Entrepreneurship in Small Business program, is available at www.ausindustry.gov.au
The closing date for applications is Monday 2 July, 2007.
Government legislates to improve energy efficiency for big business
Big business has also received a new energy efficiency strategy, following the Energy Efficiency Opportunities Act 2006 (Cth), which was finetuned earlier this year.
The Act commenced on 1 July 2006 and requires companies with an annual use of over half a petajoule (PJ) of energy per year to:
- register with the Federal Industry Department's Energy Efficiency Opportunities program; and
- conduct rigorous energy use assessments.
According to Federal Industry Minister Ian MacFarlane businesses are "big users of energy" and any reduction in their energy use or increased energy efficiency will make a "significant contribution" to cuts in Australia's greenhouse gas emissions.
"Half a petajoule of energy is equivalent to the amount of energy used by 10,000 households a year so these businesses are big users," he said in a statement dated 13 April 2007. "This can translate into very big savings for the companies as well - one company has already found more than $1 million a year in savings."
Mr MacFarlane said the program has already received strong support from industry.
"What we've heard from companies that have already conducted an assessment is that many do identify ways to either cut energy use or use energy more efficiently," he said.
The Minister revealed that to date, over 211 corporations, accounting for 60 per cent of Australia's total business energy use have registered for the program.
"I'm encouraged by the number of companies that have registered in the Energy Efficiency Opportunities program, and that these companies account for such a major proportion of Australia's energy use," he said.
One business currently taking the lead on energy efficiency is Perth's Midland Brick, which according to Mr MacFarlane could reduce its emissions by approximately 19,000 tonnes of CO2 per year after identifying energy saving measures the program.
According to Mr Macfarlane in a statement dated 16 May 2007, Midland Brick has showed leadership in working with the government to demonstrate how the program helps businesses:
- save energy
- improve productivity; and
- reduce their carbon footprint.
"Preliminary analysis of just 12 opportunities revealed Midland Brick will generate energy savings equivalent to the energy use of 5,000 households,” Mr MacFarlane said.
For more information on the Energy Efficiency Opportunities program visit www.energyefficiencyopportunities.gov.au.