Australian Businesses Ignore
Energy Efficiency Measures
- Almost half of Australia's businesses have not
implemented any energy efficiency or energy reduction
measures
- Only 5% have audited their energy usage
- Less than 2% of businesses have elected to purchase
'GreenPower' (ref)
- MakeItCheaper's top 3 energy saving tips
Sydney 24 August 2010: Australian
businesses are ignoring environmental concerns as they snub energy
efficiency and energy reduction measures.
According to the latest Australian Bureau of Statistics
figures[i] a meagre 5% of Australian
businesses have audited their energy usage and almost half have
avoided taking action to improve their energy efficiency.
Tim Wolfenden, CEO of MakeItCheaper.com.au, the independent
business energy price comparison service, believes that the
statistics are misleading.
"These statistics highlight a severe problem with the
government's education of small businesses, not business apathy,"
he said.
"The government has invested millions of dollars in its
GreenPower program but the campaign will continue to fail when it
means additional costs to businesses."
Wolfenden believes that the take up of the GreenPower program
will continue to be snubbed by businesses if they are expected to
pay more for green energy, when they already contribute to the
government's mandatory renewable energy targets directly through
their energy bills.
"There's a serious neglect by the government in educating and
empowering businesses to better manage their energy use.
Reducing energy consumption rather than signing up to the
GreenPower program is the easiest and quickest way for businesses
to positively impact Australia's carbon footprint," he
explained.
Wolfenden strongly believes that to have a significant impact
business energy efficiency campaigns must focus on reducing energy
usage and cost savings.
"If a business wants to be energy efficient they should review
their energy use, cut consumption and switch to a supplier that
will offer them a better deal," he advises.
An average SME spends around $8,000 on their energy bill. By
reducing their energy use and switching to a cheaper provider they
could save anywhere from $800 up to $1600 per year.
Make It Cheaper: Top 3 Energy Saving Tips
Air Conditioning: Turn down your AC unit a
couple of degrees - means it will work less, and use less.
-
Top Tip: Use the 'Recycle' function
on the air conditioner. Cooling air from inside uses less power
that cooling hot air from outside
Lighting: Fit energy saving light bulbs. They
last 10 times longer than ordinary light bulbs!
-
Top Tip: In larger businesses
consider installing motion sensors to control unnecessary lighting
of low traffic areas
Office Equipment: If you're not going to use it
again for 10 mins or more, turn it off.
-
Top Tip: Turn it off!
How to switch with Make It Cheaper:
- Call Make It Cheaper on 1300 95 77 21 and we'll search the
entire market for a cheaper deal
- Fax your most recently electricity bill directly to Make It
Cheaper (including your contact details) on 02 9423 4648. We'll
search the entire market and call you back with a cheaper deal
About www.makeitcheaper.com.au
Make It Cheaper is Australia's first dedicated business price
comparison service. Acting as an independent energy broker, Make It
Cheaper is helping Australian businesses make their electricity and
gas bills cheaper, by offering a free and independent comparison
and switching service.
- Ends
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Notes to Editors:
[i] SOURCE:
http://www.abs.gov.au/ausstats/abs@.nsf/Products/4660.0~2008-09~Main+Features~Energy?OpenDocument