Page 2800 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 17 September 2014

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systems in the new suburbs of Coombs, Harrison section 4 and Jacka. The potential for mandating solar hot water is being investigated for the future suburbs of Denman Prospect and Throsby. Wright and Coombs achieved accreditation in four categories of the Urban Development Institute of Australia’s EnviroDevelopment tool, including energy.

These suburbs introduced for the first time the solar access requirements which will help to facilitate passive solar design and renewable space heating. Home owners in Wright and Coombs also have access to the LDA’s home sustainability adviser, who provides advice on passive solar design and options for and optimal location of renewable energy installations such as solar hot-water systems and photovoltaic panels.

Meanwhile the new suburb of Lawson in Belconnen is a pilot for the Green Building Council of Australia’s green star communities tool, which includes an assessment of renewable energy options. Lawson also has mandated solar hot water on all single residential blocks. West Belconnen is also a pilot of the Green Building Council’s green star communities tool and a range of renewable technologies are being explored, including a potential location for a solar farm.

In the planning for the proposed Molonglo demonstration precinct, known as Scope, research was undertaken into a range of renewable energy options. This included requirements for cabling to be installed for future installation of photovoltaic panels. Planning for the precinct achieved all six categories of the Urban Development Institute of Australia’s EnviroDevelopment certification, including energy, water, waste, materials, ecosystems and community. This research and accreditation is now available for potential adoption by a future developer for the site.

Back in 2012 I launched the government’s business development strategy—growth, diversification and jobs. The strategy committed additional funding each financial year to the 2014-15 fiscal year to boost the innovation connect program to include a new funding stream for clean technology or sustainability-oriented companies.

Clean tech grants support commercialisation and proof of technology projects that improve environmental quality, reduce environmental impacts or improve efficiencies in the use of energy resources and lead to the development of new, innovative clean technologies and services. Since this funding stream was launched in late 2012 five projects have been successful in receiving a total of $210,000 in ACT government funding.

The South East Region of Renewable Energy Excellence was formed in 2011 and received further momentum through a grant from the Department of Industry to map and scope the needs and capacity of the capital region’s renewable energy sector. The territory government’s commitment to the South East Region of Renewable Energy Excellence industry cluster is $20,000 per annum for three years, with the Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate and the Environment and Planning Directorate each providing $10,000.


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