Investment to help business be green

The NSW Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, Carmel Tebbutt, announced two new programs to reduce the state’s greenhouse gas emissions and help NSW businesses cut power use.

Tebbutt said that the $20 million Sustainability Advantage Energy Saver and $15 million Energy Efficiency for Small Business programs will help businesses become more energy efficient and save on electricity costs.

Tebbutt said that more than 30 of the small businesses within the Canal Road Film Centre participating in the Energy Efficiency program would each receive:

• an on-site energy assessment,
• an action plan outlining work they could do to improve their efficiency; and
• eligibility for a rebate of up to $5000 to implement further improvements in their action plan, based on lighting, refrigeration, air-conditioning and industrial equipment.

“The program helps small businesses by highlighting where savings can be made,” said Tebbutt.

“For example, across the Canal Road complex a 10% saving on electricity could be achieved by introducing sensor and timed lighting and a further 25% could be realised by installing more efficient lights and fittings.

Tebbutt said that there were more than 650,000 small and medium businesses in NSW employing 95% of all workers in the state.

“Over 70 businesses have received energy assessments and action plans in a pilot program which has revealed a high level of potential electricity savings among small business,” said Tebbutt.

“Its not just small businesses receiving assistance — it’s also important that we provide incentives for larger businesses to improve their energy use.

“We know that 36% of NSW greenhouse gas emissions in NSW is from electricity generation or use. Of that, 36% industry and commercial consumption accounts for the vast majority — 62%.

“The Sustainability Advantage Energy Saver will provide medium to large businesses with dollar for dollar funding for energy audits and technical advice to boost the efficient use of electricity,” said Tebbutt.

“This initiative builds on the successful Sustainability Advantage Program that has already helped 230 organisations to save close to 6000 tonnes of greenhouse gases and $1.6 million in electricity bills in an 18-month period to 30 June 2008.”

For more information, visit www.environment.nsw.gov.au/sustainbus.