Green Businesses should be Supported, not Scorned

Thursday, 10 April 2008 22:08

Cost-effective funding for innovative energy and water savings projects that wouldn’t otherwise occur raises the bar for industry and benefits the whole community, TEC said.

“The NSW Government is right to offer the carrot as well as the stick,” said Jane Castle, TEC Energy Campaigner. “Responsible support for businesses trying to go green is a legitimate part of the climate change response. This is not a lot of money we’re talking about compared to the economic devastation that climate change will wreak if we don’t act.”

“The Green Business Program rules out funding for programs that would have happened anyway, so this is encouraging businesses to go that bit further. It also requires businesses to contribute to the level of any savings made within a 2 year period. So calling it hand-outs for multi-nationals is simply rubbish.”

“The Fund also provides critical support for the emergent energy efficiency industry. Building that sector up so that it can compete with cheap, polluting coal-fired power is essential if we’re to tackle our greenhouse emissions.”

“The Fund is triggering innovations and setting new benchmarks. Mirvac’s ground-breaking tri-generation system is a good example, combining heating, cooling, hot water, and power from a single low emission gas-fired source, and increasing energy efficiency by up to 80 per cent.”

“Changing the culture of businesses is not simple.  One of the main barriers to energy and water efficiency is other competing investments. The Green Business Program helps businesses to change their priorities. Triggering such deep cultural changes should be supported.”

The Green Business Program is so far saving 164 million litres of drinking water and 36,000 tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions a year. It provides $6 million per year for five years for projects that will save water and energy in business operations in NSW.