First Fuel Energy Efficiency Council

First Fuel returns with a very special episode this month, featuring none other than Amory Lovins, co-founder of RMI and an Adjunct Professor at Stanford University.

At the end of an incredible week that included Australia's first Industrial Decarbonisation Summit and the 2024 EEC National Conference, Amory joined our host and EEC CEO Luke Menzel to reflect on where Australia finds itself at this point in our energy transition.

Luke and Amory also discussed Amory's history with Australia, his thoughts on the potential for energy management in the near and long-term future, nuclear power and much more. As you'd expect from the man dubbed 'the Einstein of Energy Efficiency' this is a wide-ranging, solutions-focussed 30 minutes of conversation that is overflowing with ideas.

A guest of the EEC at 2023'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

Of the many positives to come from the 2023 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

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.

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

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