THE HON GREG COMBET AM MP
Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
THE HON MARK DREYFUS QC MP
Cabinet Secretary, Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency
JOINT MEDIA RELEASE
Low carbon communities to improve energy efficiency
The Minister for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Greg Combet, and the Parliamentary Secretary for Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Mark Dreyfus, today published consultation papers on the design of two streams under the Low Carbon Communities initiative.
Low Carbon Communities, a 2010 election commitment of the Gillard Government, was recently expanded as part of the Governments plan for a Clean Energy Future. Low Carbon Communities aims to support and encourage communities and households to understand and improve their energy efficiency.
Helping households, communities and business improve their energy efficiency to lower carbon pollution and lower energy bills is a priority for the Government, Mr Combet said.
The Low Income Energy Efficiency Program will provide grants to consortia of community, government and energy organisations to trial ways of improving energy efficiency in low income households.
The Community Energy Efficiency Program will provide grants to help local councils and community organisations undertake energy efficiency upgrades and retrofits to council and community-use buildings and facilities.
Mr Dreyfus said, the Low Carbon Communities initiative will continue to support local action and develop productive relationships with local governments and community organisations to reduce carbon pollution and encourage more efficient use of energy.
Community input is key to ensuring the programs meet the needs of Australian households and communities and I encourage all interested parties to provide comments on the proposed design of the Community Energy Efficiency Program and the Low Income Energy Efficiency Program, he said.
The Low Carbon Communities initiative also encompasses the Household Energy and Financial Sustainability Scheme and the Charities Maritime and Aviation Support Program.
Public submissions on the consultation papers are due by 5.00pm (AEST) on 21 October 2011.
For more information or to access the consultation papers visit: www.climatechange.gov.au/lowcarboncommunities
Further information on the Governments Clean Energy Future package is available at www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au
TUESDAY, 27 SEPTEMBER 2011
