Martin Ferguson, Minister for Resources and Energy

Canberra, Australia --- (METERING.COM) --- July 9, 2012 - Australia’s largest businesses are saving 88.8 PJ of energy per year or 1.5 percent of the country’s annual greenhouse gas emissions, according to the latest results from the government’s Energy Efficiency Opportunities (EEO) Program.

The latest program report indicates that companies participating in the program are implementing projects that will save approximately 5.4 percent of assessed energy use. This represents an increase in energy savings of 17.6 percent from those reported last year and more than doubling the savings initially reported by companies in 2008.

“These results demonstrate the capacity for meaningful energy savings to be identified and implemented through a rigorous and whole of business assessment as required under the EEO program,” commented minister for Resources and Energy, Martin Ferguson. “Most importantly, the EEO program has contributed to helping businesses and the economy save over Au$800 million (US$814 million) a year.”

Throughout the program, many corporations have reported low or no-cost energy saving measures involving behavioral change, procedural improvements, operator training and other initiatives. Other energy savings initiatives involve improvements to current technologies or the transition to new, more energy efficient technologies.

As of May 1, 2012, 319 corporations were formally registered under the EEO program. Of these corporations, 252 were required to report at the end of 2011.

To encourage wider adoption of the program, from July 1 it has been extended to allow voluntary participation by smaller businesses with annual energy usage below the existing 0.5 PJ threshold.