The Department of Communities has begun an investigation into how to cut the carbon emissions from the thousands of homes it manages.
The Department has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Future Battery Industries Cooperative Research Centre (FBICRC) aimed at developing a decarbonisation strategy to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of Department’s public housing stock.
In a statement, the Department said the two organisations would work together to determine the best methods to improve access to clean energy and emission reduction technology, with the aim of providing renewable, lower-cost power to benefit tenants and the broader community.
The FBICRC is a not-for-profit collaboration of more than 70 industry, Government and academic partners which aims to create a vibrant renewable battery industry for Australia.
Aligned to the Western Australian Sectoral Emissions Reduction Strategy (SERS), it is pursuing strategies to enable regional job creation, energy security, and economic resilience in the energy transition.
The Department said that under the MoU, a working group of industry and academic experts would explore a range of issues that aligned with the WA Climate Policy and the SERS.
The MoU will be in place for three years.
Minister for Housing, John Carey said the Department had a significant portfolio of social dwellings, and the collaboration would positively contribute to the Government’s goal of achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
His thoughts were echoed by Minister for Energy, Bill Johnston who said the WA Climate Policy prioritised initiatives to enhance climate resilience and transition the State to a low carbon economy.
