FOR COMMUNITY
Effective solutions to Climate Change and Peak Oil – Actions by Individuals and Households
To be effective, solutions to climate change and peak oil need to:
a) quickly reduce further growth in Australia's greenhouse gas emissions before 2015;
b) progressively reduce Australia's consumption of oil and gas; and
c) support and participate in a ‘new’ lower consumption, lower emissions society.
Climate change
Background
Australia's greenhouse gas emissions from the use of fossil fuels have risen by 25% since 1990. As individuals and households, we can take direct action to cut emissions, particularly from electricity generation and transport.
The components of greenhouse gas emissions from homes are shown in the chart below.
Greenhouse gases from home energy use (Australian Greenhouse Ofiice).
The other major contributor to household greenhouse gas emissions is using the car. The average car emits around 6 tonnes of greenhouse gases each year (see http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/gwci/transport.html).
The Top 4 Effective Solutions for individuals/households
#1 Switch from electric hot water heating to gas or solar
Water heating produces about 28% of household greenhouse gas emissions. Switching from electricity to gas reduces emissions from heating water by about two-thirds. In southeast Queensland, choosing solar water heating (particularly with gas boosting) gives a further reduction in emissions (see http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/yourhome/technical/fs42.htm for more details).
54% of Australian homes have an electric hot water system. Replacing these greenhouse-unfriendly systems with gas or solar is the single most effective action that households can take to reduce their greenhouse emissions.
#2 Avoid or reduce use of air conditioners and heaters
Heating/cooling of homes is a major source of greenhouse emissions (about 14%). Ways of reducing emissions from heating and cooling are:
when buying/building a home, choose an energy efficient home (construction materials and site orientation) with less need for mechanical heating or cooling
install home insulation
set the thermostat on air conditioners no lower than 25 degrees in summer and no higher than 20 degrees in winter (if reverse cycle).
(See http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/yourhome/technical/fs44.htm for more details).
#3 Switch to a 6 star fridge and avoid/reduce use of freezers
Refrigeration produces about 17% of domestic greenhouse emissions. Switching from a 3 star fridge to a 6 star model will reduce annual greenhouse emissions by almost half a tonne (see http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/yourhome/technical/fs41.htm). Limiting use of the freezer to Christmas and other 'high load' periods rather than using continuously throughout the year will further reduce emissions.
#4 Reduce car use
Cars contribute about 10% of Australia's greenhouse gas emissions, with the average car travelling about 15,000 km per year. Car use can be reduced by
walking or cycling for shorter trips (up to about 3km)
car sharing
working closer to home
shopping and socialising locally
organising a 'walking bus' for school children
catching a train or bus, or cycling at least one day a week.
Switching to a more fuel-efficient vehicle will also be effective in reducing your greenhouse emissions provided you don't over compensate by driving further than before.
Peak Oil
Background
At a time when world oil production may well have peaked, consumption of oil and gas is continuing to increase. This is expected to result in a growing shortfall between demand and production, resulting in sharply increasing prices and greater vulnerability to disruption of supply.
Because it will take one or two decades to bring alternative liquid fuels on line, the short to medium term response to peak oil must be to reduce demand in line with falling oil production (initially about 2.5% per year). Individuals/households can assist in this process by cutting their fuel consumption by at least 2.5% each year.
The Top 4 Effective Solutions for individuals/households
#1 Switch to a more fuel-efficient car
This will give you several years 'credit' on your demand-reduction path.
#2 Reduce car use
See the Reduce car use section under Climate Change for how to do this.
#3 Buy locally made products
Many of the goods that we buy have been transported long distances and therefore 'embody' consumed oil. Choosing food and other goods produced closer to home can reduce your total oil consumption.
#4 Buy food with a smaller ‘oil footprint’
Conventional food production is heavily dependent on on-farm use of fuels, fertilisers and pesticides derived from oil or natural gas. Meat and other products from grain-fed animals are particularly oil/gas intensive.
Buying local organic produce (or growing your own) will reduce the ‘oil footprint’ of your food.
