Benchmark Study on Green Buildings - Royal Architectural Institute ...

enewable energy target (MRET). This target is to increase renewable electricity
generation from Australia’s renewable energy sources by encouraging the generation of
an additional 9,500 GWh of renewable energy per year by 2010. MRET applies
nationally, with the majority of electricity retailers and wholesale electricity buyers on
liable grids exceeding 100 megawatt (MW) in all states and territories contributing
proportionately to increase Australia’s renewable energy sources. The ORER also offers
Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), which can be created when residents replace
electric water heaters with solar water heaters, or when small renewable energy
generators are installed and begin producing power. The ORER is like an overseer of
other energy initiatives, and encourages other people to do their part to save energy,
switch to renewable sources of energy and begin generating their own sustainable energy.
Energy Efficiency Opportunities Program:
The Australian Government’s Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources runs the
Energy Efficiency Opportunities Program, which encourages large energy-using
businesses to improve their energy efficiency. It does this by requiring businesses to
identify, evaluate and report publicly on cost effective energy savings opportunities.
Energy Efficiency Opportunities is designed to lead to: improved identification and
uptake of cost-effective energy efficiency opportunities, improved productivity and
reduced greenhouse gas emissions, and greater scrutiny of energy use by large energy
consumers. Participation in Energy Efficiency Opportunities is mandatory for the
estimated 250 corporations in Australia that use more than 0.5 petajoules (PJ) of energy
per year. This is approximately equivalent to the energy used by 10,000 households.
Commercializing Emerging Technologies (COMET) Program:
Australia is also very supportive of the work done by its SMEs, and runs numerous
programs designed to increase or at least maintain their market exposure and
competitiveness. The Australian Government is providing a further $100 million over the
next six years to continue and expand the highly successful Commercializing Emerging
Technologies (COMET) Program. COMET provides innovators with advice, services and
financial assistance to plan their commercialization, to attract capital for their project and
to establish strategic partnerships to take the innovation to the market. Advice is provided
through a network of private sector business advisers and financial assistance is available
to subsidize access to service providers in marketing, commercialization, intellectual
property and business planning. A 2002 survey of firms assisted by COMET showed that
the program was very successful in encouraging entrepreneurs and enabling firms to
achieve their business goals. The network of business advisers is a unique and valuable
feature of COMET, and leads to long-term and beneficial changes to firm behaviour. The
COMET program has been extended to June 2011, and will continue to support
entrepreneurial firms in planning the commercialization of their innovations. This means
some 200 companies per annum can be supported with mentoring and commercialization
management advice. COMET will also expand the network of private sector business
advisers with commercialization expertise by 30% so that COMET can reach a wider
range of businesses, particularly in outer metropolitan and regional areas. COMET
assistance is targeted to small Australian firms who have high potential to grow rapidly
through the production of innovative products, processes and services. The regional
111