New Australian Government – Keen To Tackle Global Warming

The newly elected Labor government has been keen to show that Australia is serious about tackling global warming. One of Prime Minister Rudd's first actions was for Australia to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.

In line with Kyoto, Government policy now stipulates a Mandatory Renewable Energy Target (MRET) of 20% emissions reduction by 2020, rising to a 60% reduction by 2050. The fiscal cost of meeting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions targets will inevitably be passed down to businesses in the form of compulsory accountability for energy usage.

Presently there is no legal requirement for property owners of existing buildingsto be held responsible for the energy output of a building; such measures as "Green Star" (Green Building Council of Australia) building ratings arevoluntary. However each State has enforced policy setting minimum energyrequirements that apply to major refurbishments of both residential