Delivering best practice home energy services
Background
Below is information on delivering best practice home energy services using opportunities available through NSW Government programs.
For more information or advice, please contact DECC's Environment Line on 131 555.
National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS)
NABERS HOME is an environmental performance rating for households. It provides a credible and reliable basis to benchmark energy and water use and provides a simple way for householders to learn about saving energy and water. The NABERS website offers several useful tools for householders:
- NABERS HOME Energy and Water rating calculator - The householder enters energy and water bills for one year and some basic household information. It takes about 5-10 minutes to complete and provides water and energy performance ratings from 1 to 5 stars. A 5 star rating represents a highly efficient household, 2.5 stars is average and a 1 star rating means there are lots of opportunities to save. A NABERS HOME Waste rating is being developed.
- NABERS HOME Energy Explorer and Water Explorer - The Explorer tools build a personalised action plan for the householder, based on their appliances and behaviour. These take 15-20 minutes to complete; analysing energy and water use in detail and identifying opportunities to save.
A growing number of Councils are building NABERS into their household energy saving programs. The NABERS team is currently developing industry-standard training for household sustainability assessors and an accreditation program, to provide Councils and other customers with confidence in the skills, experience and service level of the assessors engaged.
NSW Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scheme (GGAS)
The NSW Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scheme (GGAS) is one of the first mandatory greenhouse gas emissions trading schemes in the world. It is administered by the Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal of NSW (IPART) and aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions associated with the production and use of electricity.
A wide range of activities are eligible to be accredited under GGAS, including energy efficiency projects. Companies submit an application to IPART which requires details to be provided about the project, including the project's quality assurance and record keeping arrangements. Once accredited, projects are audited periodically to check on-going compliance with GGAS.
Accredited companies are able to create NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Certificate (NGACs) for each tonne of greenhouse gas abated under the scheme. NGACs have a market value and can be sold.
The most common type of energy efficiency projects accredited to date have been those involving the distribution of water efficient showerheads and energy efficient compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) to households To create NGACs from the installation of these products, the accredited company must receive a written nomination from the electricity bill payer for the household. GGAS requires any company undertaking residential installations to comply with all relevant statutory requirements, including any local rules and regulations.
Best practice home energy services
Local councils are increasingly taking advantage of opportunities created by GGAS to partner with accredited companies to deliver residential energy savings programs.
The scope and scale of these programs varies considerably. Councils are advised to consider how they can maximise residents' energy and greenhouse savings by making most of the 'foot in the door' opportunity. This can range from providing information about other residential programs offered by the Council to providing a more comprehensive educational and professional service through:
- A basic home energy audit using the NABERS Rating and Explorer tools
- A comprehensive in-home audit, including NABERS HOME Energy and Water ratings
- Recycling and/or appropriate disposal of the replaced appliances
- Ensuring use of accredited tradespeople e.g. licensed plumbers to install showerheads.
- Provision of useful information to householders such as tips to save energy, water and waste, information about GreenPower or NABERS HOME, Council programs, such as workshops or rebates, and where to go for more detailed information
- Inclusion of reporting requirements including number, type and location of installations, feedback from households, take-up rates, added benefits, customer satisfaction
- Maintenance/follow-up plan
- Evaluation, for example using NABERS HOME to track progress of program participants.
Further information
- Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scheme (GGAS) and the energy efficient light globe and showerhead projects
- For requirements for tradespeople installing water-efficient showerheads see the NSW Plumbing Code of Practice 2006
- For a list of companies accredited to undertake lightbulb and showerhead installations visit the GGAS Registry
- For information on the NABERS Home Rating and Explorer tools see NABERS website or call DECC's Environment Line on 131 555.