First Fuel

In Episode 49 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by John Connor, CEO of the Carbon Market Institute. Luke and John unpack this week’s blockbuster report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the big topics on the agenda for the upcoming UNFCCC Conference of Parties in Glasgow, and what Australia needs to do to step up to the climate challenge. Mentione...

In Episode 48 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Frankie Muskovic, National Policy Manager for Sustainability and Regulatory Affairs at the Property Council of Australia. Luke and Frankie discuss corporate net zero commitments, the challenge of decarbonising residual emissions in commercial buildings, and two policy processes that have the potential to drive a bi...

In Episode 47 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Heidi Lee, CEO of Beyond Zero Emissions, an independent think tank focused on creating solutions for a prosperous net zero Australia. Luke and Heidi discuss BZE’s history, the huge energy efficiency jobs opportunity highlighted by The Million Jobs Plan, and their latest research on Renewable Energy Industrial Preci...

In Episode 46 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by QUT’s Associate Professor Wendy Miller, one of Australia’s leading researchers on the intersection between the built environment and our rapidly transforming energy system. Luke and Wendy discuss how her background as a musician informs her research approach, her work with the International Energy Agency’s Energy i...

In Episode 45 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Lauren Solomon, CEO of the Consumer Policy Research Centre, an independent think-tank focused on how markets can be designed to deliver better outcomes for consumers. Luke and Lauren discuss whether the ‘consumer-centric’ energy transition is rhetoric or reality, how to build the trust that will underpin new energy...

In Episode 44 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Corey Diamond, Executive Director at Efficiency Canada, Canada's national voice for an energy efficient economy. Luke and Corey discuss the drivers for energy efficiency policy in Canada, the Canadian Government's recent, multi-billion dollar investments in energy efficiency across buildings and industry, and how A...

In Episode 43 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Jarrod Leak, CEO of the Australian Alliance for Energy Productivity. Luke and Jarrod begin by discussing his transition from an executive role in the private sector to leading a not-for-profit. Then they dig into some of the big energy productivity and emissions reduction opportunities in the industrial sector: met...

In Episode 42 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Alyssa Fischer, an energy policy analyst specialising in energy efficiency at the International Energy Agency.  Luke and Alyssa discuss her recent op-ed on the role of energy efficiency in achieving net zero, why the transition to renewables doesn’t mean we can disregard energy efficiency and the role energy e...

In Episode 41 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Dian Grueneich, Precourt Energy Scholar with Stanford University’s Precourt Institute for Energy. Luke and Dian discuss the detail of the Biden Administration's climate policies, the likelihood of proposed measures passing through Congress, what the US expects from allies like Australia in the lead up to the next b...

In Episode 40 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Katie McKenzie. Katie is President of the Australian Institute of Energy, Managing Director of Macht Consulting and has just concluded four years as Principal Policy Advisor to two successive energy ministers in the McGowan Government in Western Australia. Luke and Katie discuss the particular opportunities and cha...

In Episode 39 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Bridgette Carter, Manager, Energy Sourcing & Utilisation at BlueScope and Deputy Chair of the Energy Users Association of Australia. Luke and Bridgette discuss the crucial role energy plays in BlueScope’s steel production, the company’s long history of proactive energy management, and the role of industry in the tr...

In Episode 38 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by social entrepreneur, broadcaster and philanthropist Jon Dee, RE100’s Australia coordinator and co-founder of Planet Ark. Luke and Jon discuss the origins of his passion for energy efficiency, the compelling economic case for sustainability investments, and the particular opportunities and challenges faced by small...

In Episode 37 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Alison Rowe, who has just stepped down after five years as CEO of Australian Energy Foundation (AEF). Luke and Alison discuss AEF’s origins as the Moreland Energy Foundation Limited (MEFL), the decision to rebrand and take the organisation national, and the importance of having both a vision, and a business model t...

In Episode 36 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Damien Moyse, who this week stepped down from his role as Renew’s Policy and Research Manager after twelve years. Luke and Damien discuss Renew’s unique research and advocacy role, some of the key achievements of the last twelve years, and what still needs to be done to deliver an energy transition that works for c...

In Episode 35 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by two guests: Francesca Muskovic, National Policy Manager for Sustainability and Regulatory Affairs at the Property Council of Australia, and Tennant Reed, Head of Climate, Energy and Environment Policy at Australian Industry Group. Luke, Frankie and Tennant discuss what is on the energy and climate agenda for 2021,...

In Episode 34 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Jeremy Sung, an energy policy analyst specialising in energy efficiency at the International Energy Agency (IEA). Luke and Jeremy discuss Energy Efficiency 2020 , the latest edition of the IEA’s annual energy efficiency market report. They cover the worrying slowdown in global energy efficiency improvement, the fac...

In Episode 33 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Connie Hedegaard, Former European Commissioner for Climate Action. Luke and Connie discuss growing global momentum for ambitious action on climate change, and the central role of energy efficiency in the transition. Mentioned in this episode: Recommendations of the Global Commission for Urgent Action on Energy Effi...

In Episode 32 of First Fuel, we bring you a special ‘Sundowner session’ direct from last week’s National Energy Efficiency Conference. Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel and Independent MP for Warringah, Zali Steggall OAM, catch up for a beer to discuss her effort to help Australia turn the page on a decade of dysfunctional climate politics. Mentioned in this episode: Wild Australia: After...

In Episode 31 of First Fuel, we bring you a special ‘Sundowner session’ direct from this week’s National Energy Efficiency Conference. Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel and Labor Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy Mark Butler catch up for a beer and discuss, well, 2020. Mentioned in this episode: Get a pass and catch up with ALL the great sessions at the National Energy Efficien...

In Episode 30 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Kellie Caught, Senior Adviser, Climate & Energy at the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS) and Nick Aberle, Campaigns Manager at Environment Victoria. Luke, Kellie, and Nick discuss the landmark $797 million dollar energy efficiency package announced by the Victorian Government earlier this week. Menti...

In Episode 29 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by two guests: Francesca Muskovic, National Policy Manager for Sustainability and Regulatory Affairs at the Property Council of Australia, and Tennant Reed, Head of Climate, Energy and Environment Policy at Australian Industry Group. Luke, Frankie and Tennant unpack Joe Biden’s win in the 2020 United States Presidenti...

In Episode 28 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined two members of the team at the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS), Director Carlos Flores and Head of Market Development, Esther Bailey. Luke, Carlos and Esther discuss some of the key themes from the NABERS Annual Report 2019/20: the future of NABERS, sector expansion, the second year of the...

In Episode 27 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by two guests: Annie Shepperd, CEO of Salix Finance, an organisation wholly owned by the UK Government which provides interest-free capital to public sector bodies for energy efficiency upgrades, and the Energy Efficiency Council’s own Holly Taylor, Senior Manager for Projects and Partnerships. Luke, Annie and Holly d...

In Episode 26 of First Fuel, we bring you a panel discussion from the launch of the third edition of the Energy Efficiency Council’s annual energy briefing for Australian businesses, Navigating a dynamic energy landscape . Luke is joined by Bridgette Carter, Manager of Energy Sourcing & Utilisation at BlueScope Steel, Justin Merrell, Group Environment Director at Lion, Christina Tonkin, Managi...

In Episode 25 of First Fuel, Energy Efficiency Council CEO Luke Menzel is joined by Francesca Muskovic, National Policy Manager for Sustainability and Regulatory Affairs at the Property Council of Australia and Stakeholder Chair of the Steering Committee for the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS). Luke and Frankie discuss her early aspirations to get into Formula 1, the e...