90 episodes
First Fuel Energy Efficiency Council
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- Business
Hosted by Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel, First Fuel brings you the latest perspectives on energy efficiency, energy management and demand response from Australia and around the world.
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89: Making smart buildings a reality, with Jessica Granderson
A guest of the EEC at this year’s National Energy Efficiency Conference, Dr Jessica Granderson
directs the Building Technology and Urban Systems Division at the Lawrence
Berkeley National Laboratory, and is one of the world’s foremost experts on building
efficiency and energy management.
In this episode, Luke and Jessica explore the ins and outs of smart buildings, discussing
how software can be used as an overlay to traditional building technology;
how governments can advance policies that incentivise the market; how building
users interact with flexible loads; and most importantly, how all this smart
building potential can be turned into reality.
What’s apparent is just how much can be achieved using
existing technology and systems, which will be able to interact with future
technology. But as exciting as coming innovations may be: we don't need to wait.
Connect with Jessica Connect with Lukeeec.org.au -
88: What we (should) talk about when we talk about net zero targets, with Jan Rosenow
Of the many positives to come from this year's National Energy Efficiency Conference, one of the biggest was the opportunity to bring Jan Rosenow to Australia for the first time.
In the world of energy efficiency, Dr Rosenow needs little introduction. With his day job leading European Programs at the Regulatory Assistance Project, Jan also serves on the Executive Committee of the International Energy Agency’s demand-side management program, and sits on the board of the European Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (he also makes time to maintain an excellent social media presence).
After delivering his keynote at the conference, Dr Rosenow sat down with EEC CEO Luke Menzel to reflect on how Australia can effectively prioritise our raft of energy challenges. The pair also discuss their confidence in electrification as the way forward in the building sector, the role of electrification relative to hydrogen in other sectors, and why it’s useful to retain a little scepticism around net zero targets if they’re not immediately paired with plans to hit them.
As always, this episode of First Fuel is a freewheeling ride that goes deep with some of the best minds in the energy efficiency business.
Connect with JanConnect with Lukeeec.org.au -
87: National Efficiency Schemes Summit 2023: Post event wrap
Last month's National Efficiency Schemes Summit was the first of its kind: a national event bringing together participants in all Australia's state efficiency schemes – a remarkable fact by Energy Savings Industry Association President Rod Woolley.
That industry and government, NGOs and consumer groups from right around Australia had never gathered in one room before before to discuss the schemes was, as Luke says, “kind of bananas.” So with the stage lights still warm, we sat down with three key participants to discuss what the day meant and will continue to mean as Australia's schemes mature and diversify to keep pace with our changing energy systems.
Joining Luke to get out of the weeds and talk scheme strategy and impact are Caroline Bennett, CEO of Green Energy and Carbon Management, Steve Procter from the NSW Office of Energy and Climate Change, and Climateworks Centre's Anna Malos.
For more info on the Summit, head to eec.org.au/ness23. -
86: Transforming industry with Troy Powell and Rob Kelly
Earlier this month, some of Australia’s biggest companies released a statement to say that even our heaviest industries can transition their supply chains to net zero emissions, and they’re prepared to put the work in.
It won’t be easy, and the pathway is narrow. But thanks to the work of the Australian Industry Energy Transition Initiative, it’s possible.
In Episode 86 of First Fuel, EEC CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Orica’s Head of Sustainability Troy Powell and Industry Lead at Climateworks Centre, Rob Kelly, to discuss the Energy Transition Initiative and the opportunities it presents to Australian industry.
Read all publications from the Australian Energy Transition Initiative here.
Connect with our guests:
Find Troy here.
Find Rob here.
Connect with us:
Find Luke on Twitter here
Find out more about the Energy Efficiency Council at eec.org.au
Follow us on Twitter.
Email us at firstfuel@eec.org.au -
85: School's in for summer with Alex St John
Along with ambitious commitments to renewable energy, the Albanese Government has set its sights on decarbonisation and energy efficiency, putting the nation's energy policy wonks to work over the summer.
In Episode 85 of First Fuel, EEC CEO Luke Menzel and EEC Acting Head of Policy Alex St John (a man who in his own words, “skews wonk”) discuss the “Summer of Submissions”.
Luke and Alex unpack the EEC's thoughts on the proposed National Energy Performance
Strategy, as well as climate-related financial disclosure, the Powering the Regions fund, and of course, reforms to the Safeguard Mechanism.
Connect with our guests:
Find Alex here.
Connect with us:
Find Luke on Twitter here
Find out more about the Energy Efficiency Council at eec.org.au
Follow us on Twitter.
Email us at firstfuel@eec.org.au -
84: Planning for net zero with Kate Levick
If they don’t already have one, developing a net zero plan is high on the priority list for all Australian businesses. But as most now know, the real job isn’t developing a plan, but putting that plan to work.
In Episode 84 of First Fuel, EEC CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Kate Levick, co-head of the UK Transition Planning Taskforce Secretariat.
The Transition Plan Taskforce was formed when, in a speech at Glasgow’s COP26, Britain’s then-Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak announced that listed companies in the UK would be asked to disclose their transition plans by 2023.
Speaking one year on at COP27 in Egypt, Luke and Kate discuss the Taskforce’s role in defining what best practice business transitions look like; how companies across sectors can ensure the best chance of a successful transition; and what Australian government and businesses can learn from the UK experience so far.
Mentioned in this episode:
Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures
The Transition Plan Taskforce Disclosure Framework
The Transition Plan Taskforce Implementation Guidance
TPT Online Sandbox
Key topics:
What is the UK’s Transition Plan Task Force?
What do we mean when we say a transition plan?
The link between financial disclosure and transition plans
Lessons for Australia and the rest of the world
Connect with our guests:
Find Kate at https://twitter.com/katellevick
Find the TPT at https://transitiontaskforce.net/
Connect with us:
Find Luke at https://twitter.com/lukemenzel
Find out more about the Energy Efficiency Council at www.eec.org.au
Follow us on Twitter at https://twitter.com/EECouncil
Email us at firstfuel@eec.org.au
To find out how you can listen to an upcoming episode of First Fuel live, visit www.eec.org.au/podcasts