Orange City Council LED street and building lighting scheme praised

Holly Taylor, senior manager of Projects and Partnerships at Energy Efficiency Council said OCC was making substantial cost and electricity savings as well as creating jobs through its efficiency work.

"Orange City Council is not alone in this but Orange City Council is definitely leading," she said.

Ms Taylor said council was saving $170,000 a year in energy costs plus $34,000 a year in maintenance by switching to more efficient lighting than previous halogen globes.

Ms Taylor said there was scope for all councils to look at creating efficiencies in their buildings.

She highlighted public pools, whose pumps and air-conditioning systems could be made more efficient through the use of cleaner energy.

Ms Taylor said councils could create jobs, stimulate local economies and unlock significant savings by implementing an energy efficiency strategy.

"While energy efficiency isn't as sexy as solar panels on roofs, or as obvious as wind turbines on rolling hills, it is a real jobs machine," she said.

"Efficiency retrofits consistently top the charts in comprehensive analyses of energy-related stimulus options by organisations such as the International Energy Agency and the International Monetary Fund."

She said Australia was one of the least energy-efficient developed nations in the world.

Ms Taylor that was due to Australia historically having cheap power but she said that had changed and governments now needed to find efficiencies.

The Cities Power Partnership, created by the Climate Council, will host a national online summit on Wednesday to consider ways for local government to create energy savings.

More than 650 people are expected to participate in the summit. They will include state and local government representatives, energy experts and community members.

The virtual summit, Re-energise Australia: A Clean Jobs Summit, will look to define opportunities for local government to create jobs and generate investment.

ACT former deputy chief minister Simon Corbell said cities and regions could drive a clean, locally-led economic recovery.

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