One in three homeowners would take on a Green Deal loan to pay for home improvements according to new research by thinkinsulation.com. The Green Deal is the government’s new scheme to provide funding to help homeowners with energy-saving upgrades. Read the full article

Palos Hills residents looking to conserve household energy can save some big bucks through an incentive program offered through the Chicago Metropolitan Agency on Planning.
Megan Visk, field organizer for Energy Impact Illinois, presented information on the program at a recent committee-of-the-whole meeting. The program offers homeowners 70 percent or up to $1,750 on energy efficiency improvements such as air sealing and insulation. Read the full article

One and a half thousand public housing tenants and their families around Tasmania are set to benefit from the next round of Energy Champions energy efficiency upgrades with lower power bills and warmer homes. Read the full press release

The huge untapped potential saving from more efficient use of energy and a resurgence of US energy production are two key highlights from this year’s World Energy Outlook report compiled by the International Energy Agency.
The ”disappointingly slow progress” over the past decade towards more productive energy use means countries are paying a price in economic growth, energy security and the environment, the agency said. Read the full article

In a global survey conducted by The Economist Intelligence Unit commissioned by the Global Buildings Performance Network (GBPN), 75% of real estate and construction leaders agreed that building energy efficiency legislation is beneficial to their business. Meanwhile, more than a third of respondents (34%) say a lack of enforcement of existing regulations is a leading obstacle to investments in energy efficiency. Read the full article.

According to a recent survey conducted by the North American Insulation Manufacturers Association (NAIMA), U.S. and Canadian fiber glass and slag wool insulation manufacturers used over 8.5 billion pounds of recycled materials in the production of residential, commercial, industrial, and air handling thermal and acoustical insulation. Read the whole article.

The Eco-innovation Action Plan (EcoAP) comprises seven actions to help build stronger and more stable market demand for eco-innovation. Download the full article.

Harvard Business Review recently published an article on the high costs of artificial cooling.

Download a copy of the article here

During 2008 ICANZ made a detailed submission to the Garnaut Climate Change Review following the release of the Interim Report. ICANZ shared the view that Australia’s interests are best served by a strong global position on greenhouse mitigation. ICANZ endorsed the need for an Emissions Trading Scheme and supported measures by government to eliminate market failures combined with assistance for the less well off.

ICANZ presented extensive evidence to show the contribution made by insulation in improving energy efficiency and reducing the need for energy, thereby insulating us from price increases and buying time to plan for clean energy and developing more cost effective technologies.

In May 2010 the new Building Code of Australia will incorporate 6 Star energy efficiency regulations.

Residential Buildings

• ICANZ 5 Star submission of ABCB 070405 (Cover Letter)
• ICANZ 5 Star submission to ABCB 070405 (Full Submission)

Commercial Buildings

EMET Review of insulation levels for Commercial Buildings in BCA
ICANZ BCA Commercial submission 150405