Victoria is now considering the next generation of building efficiency controls, after finding it has cost builders far less to meet its 5 star standard than expected, according to state environment minister Gavin Jennings.
Meanwhile, a senior federal environment official says a major survey of non-residential builders has shown only 22% of projects are being fitted with water-saving devices.
And a leading energy efficiency expert says energy retailers should be targeting large energy users in the residential and commercial sectors.
Submissions from major energy industry players have criticised South Australia's proposed residential energy efficiency scheme for being too different from Victoria's planned scheme and have urged South Australia to put its plans on hold or simply 'piggy-back' on the Victorian program.
The Victorian state government will, in the next 10 days, sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Clinton Initiative that will focus on carbon capture and storage and low-emission and energy efficiency technologies, Victorian Premier John Brumby has just announced.
