$33 million to improve Victoria's energy efficiency

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews and Finance Minister Robin Scott today announced that the Victorian Government will reboot the Greener Government Buildings (GGB) Program, which was removed under the former Coalition government in 2013.

The government will restart the program with a $33 million investment over the next two years to save energy and reduce greenhouse emissions across a number of government buildings and infrastructure. This will include:

• installing new lighting technologies and upgrading heating and cooling systems at Gordon TAFE in Geelong and Peninsula Health facilities, including the Frankston Hospital;
• replacing all of Victoria’s freeway lighting with LED technology;
• installing solar power and LED lighting in hundreds of Victorian schools and regional healthcare facilities.

Money saved on energy bills is expected to repay the initial investment in five years and continue to save energy for years to come, reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25,000 tonnes per annum. This will strengthen the state’s finances, saving about $6 million a year over 15 years in addition to avoided capital investment costs.

In addition, the program is set to create skilled jobs in trades, engineering and energy efficiency products and services. It will help Victorian companies grow and export into the international market for energy-efficient products and services, which is worth over $470 billion per annum.

Luke Menzel, CEO of the Energy Efficiency Council (EEC), said Australia’s energy efficiency experts “applaud Dan Andrews and Robin Scott’s decision to introduce a program to upgrade state-owned buildings and streetlights”.

“Dan Andrews’ decision is win-win-win — it will improve public facilities, strengthen the state’s finances, save energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create hundreds of skilled jobs.”