1. What should the new VEET target be?
Other
Other (please specify a target and length):
[Required if 'Other' selected] *
6.5 million tonnes CO2e p.a. for five years
with no downward adjustment permitted but
an increase to be possible if it proves that
further benefits can be made at a reasonable
cost
1a. Please outline why you prefer the
target you identified, or why you selected
"No response":
Improving the energy efficiency of buildings
is cost effective and an efficient way of
reducing Victoria's greenhouse gas impacts. It
will create considerable job opportunities,
improve health impacts and also have long
term favorable economic impacts
2. Comments are invited on the modelling
approach used to determine the costs and
benefits of the VEET scheme. Is there any
additional data or information that
should be considered?
The modelling approach does not take
sufficient account of: -Impact on health and
the benefits of reduced air pollution. The
USA EPA considers this financial benefit to
be very significant. -Improvements to low
cost housing standards -Improving health
impacts with additional health benefits in
extreme weather conditions -Improving
employment opportunities and the related
benefits to the economy and to the people
employed and their families and local
communities -Potentially reducing the cost of
the government's energy concession program
3. Which greenhouse gas coefficient
should be used to quantify the reduction
in greenhouse gas emissions achieved by
the VEET scheme?
An average coefficient (as published in the
National Greenhouse Accounts)
3a. Please outline why you believe this
option is preferred, or why you selected
"No response":
Be consistent with other government
departments. It is likely that the GA data will
also be updated in the near future so one may
want to move to their proposed preferred data
4. The Department has valued greenhouse
gas emissions reductions attributed to the
VEET scheme by adopting a carbon
valuation series that was produced by the
Federal Climate Change Authority as
part of its 2014 Targets and Progress
Review.Please outline whether you think
this approach is appropriate for valuing
greenhouse gas emissions reductions over
the period 2016 to 2050?
The greenhouse gas value should include all
the costs which includes a realistic estimate
of the human health impacts, the impact of
increasing sea levels, the impact on
agricultural output and yield and any overall
adverse impacts on efficiency caused by
working in higher temperature conditions.
5. Is there a case to exclude any business
No
sector(s) from participation in the VEET
scheme?
5a. Please outline why this is your
preferred option, and comment on how
this should be implemented:
5b. Please outline why this is your
preferred option:
Significant favorable impacts can be achieved
by major businesses and the benefits will be
significant. The system should apply, for
large energy users, only to future projects (no
back-dating) and be for incremental projects.
These projects will give an overall positive
economic benefit to the economy.
6. Should the VEET scheme be amended
to better ensure support for low income
households?
Yes
6a. Please outline how the VEET scheme
could better support low income
households, and comment on why this
option should be preferred:
Low income households and rental properties
generally are not satisfactorily covered by the
proposed scheme. Methods to enable low
income households to install good returning
sustainable projects with the funding
recovered over a number of years. Rental
properties should be subject to minimum
energy efficiency standards which would be
progressively increased annually. Support
could be provided in the form of information,
advice and potentially funding with a
multiple year payback
6b. Please outline why this is your
preferred option:
7. In addition to expanding the range of
energy efficiency activities available in
VEET, should any other action be taken
to target participation by certain groups?
Yes
7a. Please outline the actions you believe
should be taken:
High energy consuming and relatively low
income households (eg large family
households) should be given access to advice,
information and support and funding options.
7b. Please outline why no other action
should be taken, or why you selected "No
response":
8. Please suggest up to five activities that
should be prioritised for revision or
1. Ceiling insulation including reducing the
impact of gaps around lights. There is no
introduction to the VEET scheme. Please
outline why you believe these activities
should be prioritised.
longer a Federal scheme but ceiling insulation
gives the best return and should be installed
in a controlled and professional manner. It
should include, wherever practical the
replacement of halogen lights and therefore
enable the insulation to safely cover almost
all of the roof area. 2. Electric heat pumps are
now more environmentally efficient than gas
fired central heating and hot water heating
units. The VEET allowance should be
extended to these units and consideration
given to reducing the benefits to gas fired
units and incidentally any extensions to the
reticulated gas system. 3. Commercial
Lighting - there are substantial benefits
available which are environmentally and
economically viable and should be
encouraged. 4. Street lighting should also be
upgraded and could be an extension to the
system. 5. Draught exclusion and sealing
properties is environmentally and
economically very worthwhile. The UK has
introduced good systems to enable homes to
be upgraded (particularly for low income and
aged persons) without installer financial
abuse.
9. Please suggest up to three changes
which should be made to improve the
VEET scheme. Please outline why you
believe these changes should be a priority.
A total house scheme which includes a
comprehensive audit and a list of works
covering all worthwhile sub-projects. Gives a
good financial and environmental return
quickly. Extending the support to lower
income and rental sectors to enable
sustainable projects to be implemented and
the costs recovered over a reasonable period
thereby improving the overall performance.
Implement energy efficiency standards for
rental properties and for smaller commercial
premises with the results being publicised and
required to be made available to new tenats.
These standards to be progressively increased
annually thereby improving the standard of
the housing stock and improving overall
performance. Encourage the commercial
sector to implement more projects through
improved support and schemes to make the
financial impacts align better with their
criteria.