On July 23, a webinar was held to provide insights into the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) regulatory program. The session featured key speakers who discussed various aspects of the GEMS framework and its impact on energy efficiency and greenhouse gas reduction.
Diane Hobday, the Sector Manager for Materials, Assets, and Products at NATA, shared that NATA’s role is to accredit organisations that do calibration, testing, and inspection according to ISO standards, specifically ISO/IEC 17025.
She highlighted that NATA uses a peer assessment model where lead assessors and technical experts visit the site and witness the testing performed by the facility. This process ensures the laboratory has the right equipment, people, and knowledge to perform the tests correctly.
NATA is a signatory to the ILAC MRA, which ensures that test reports from NATA-accredited laboratories can be recognised internationally. This demonstrates that our laboratories are assessed equivalently to any overseas lab that is also accredited by another ILAC MRA signatory.
Dan Croucher, the Branch Head (acting) from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water (DCCEEW), provided an overview of the GEMS Act, which was established in 2012 to nationalise energy efficiency standards in Australia. He highlighted the program’s achievements, including significant energy cost savings and greenhouse gas emission reductions. Dan also discussed the strategic policy objectives of the GEMS program, such as electrification, decarbonization, and transitioning the energy grid away from fossil fuels.
Robert Caruso, Assistant Director (DCCEEW), who manages the GEMS Check Testing program, explained the compliance and enforcement processes. He emphasised the importance of engaging with suppliers and retailers to ensure they understand and comply with the GEMS Act. Robert also shared a case study on refrigerated cabinets, illustrating the impact of the GEMS program on improving product energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions.
The webinar concluded with a Q&A session, where participants had the opportunity to ask questions and gain further insights into the GEMS regulatory program.
Please view the webinar recording