As Energy Ministers prepare to meet to discuss the National Energy Guarantee, a survey commissioned commissioned by the Property Council of Australia (PCA), the Energy Efficiency Council (EEC) and the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) shows that investing in energy efficiency is the most popular policy that governments can introduce.
In February 2018 these groups commissioned YouGov Galaxy to survey on the views of Australians on energy policy,.
Energy Bills & Energy Efficiency: Survey of Community, which demonstrates that the majority of Australians want governments to focus on ‘common sense’ energy efficiency and help reduce energy bills for households and businesses. Some key results are:
- 83 per cent of voters in the survey want governments to invest in energy efficiency
- Voters were more divided on whether government should invest in new coal-fired generators, with just 4 per cent net support
- More voters opposed than supported reducing incentives for renewable energy and energy storage, with 16 per cent net opposition
Voters supported a wide range of specific energy efficiency policies, including:
- 79 per cent support for incentives to upgrade commercial buildings
- 80 per cent support for minimum standards for rental homes to ensure that they are safe, comfortable and have low energy bills
- 88 per cent support strengthened minimum standards for new homes
- 92 per cent support for upgrading the energy efficiency of public buildings such as schools and hospitals
Energy Bills & Energy Efficiency: Survey of Community – full report
ACOSS media release
Energy Efficiency Council media release
Property Council of Australia media release