Published: September 24, 2008 - 12:14 PM
Going green can mean cheap gas and cheap electricity bills.
By Lesley Coombes
The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) believes Australians could save $400 a year on electricity bills if the federal government decides on a mass retrofitting of homes to reduce electricity use, the Sydney Morning Herald reported Sunday.
The Southern Cross Climate Coalition is urging the federal government to go ahead with this “green revolution”, fitting existing homes with insulation, double glazing of windows as well as energy smart appliances, meaning cheaper electricity and cheap gas bills.
Sharan Burrows, president of the ACTU argues that this plan will “create thousands of green jobs and save people money.”
20,000 jobs would be created if this proposal put forward by the Southern Cross Climate Coalition goes underway.
The coalition, launched in July 2008, is “pushing for climate policy to be fairly implemented and maximise the opportunities for investment and jobs growth.” (Climate Institute website) The coalition is an alliance of The Australian Council of Trade Unions, The Climate Institute, The Australian Conservation Foundation and The Australian Council of Social Service.
The coalition has proposed a number of different plans depending on how many of Australia’s eight million homes are chosen to be retrofitted. Those households fortunate enough to be retrofitted will rely less on their gas and electricity providers, ultimately reducing carbon emissions by cutting down on gas and electricity usage.
It is reported that each retrofitted home would hit the government with a price tag of $5500. According to the proposal, while higher-income households would contribute to the retrofit, lower-income households would be retrofitted for free.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that 7000 full-time jobs would open up and 1.5 million tonnes of emissions would be saved if 500 000 homes are retrofitted.
Retrofitting 1.2 million homes would create 17 000 jobs while saving 3.7 million tonnes of emissions.
It is likely gas rates and electricity prices will increase once an emissions trading scheme is established in 2010. If households can be fitted with these energy saving technologies before then, the impact of crippling rises in gas and electricity prices on Australian households could be softened.
Sharan Burrows of the ACTU says “if we act now (households) will be ahead of the game.”
With Australia on the forefront of emissions trading, the competitiveness of the energy market is likely to increase.
This can already be felt by Victoria electricity and gas with the recent removal of price caps on gas companies and electricity suppliers.
In such a highly competitive market, gas and electricity suppliers will fight for the best gas and electricity prices they can offer to consumers. It is important for households to continually scan and compare electricity prices and gas prices when looking for cheap electricity and cheap gas.
ShopAround.com.au offers an easy to use gas and electricity comparison service for households looking to shop around and compare electricity companies or find cheaper electricity and gas.
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