The use of energy in the home is the largest source of
greenhouse gas emissions from Australian households. The average household's
energy use is responsible for about eight tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2), the
main greenhouse gas, per year. Many of these emissions can be abated through
more efficient use of energy in our homes.
The main sources of household energy are electricity,
natural gas and wood. A small number of homes use LPG, coal, coke or heating
oil. Energy can come from either renewable or non-renewable sources. Renewable
sources such as solar, wind and hydro-power are naturally replenished and
produce very few greenhouse gas emissions when operating. Non-renewable energy
comes from diminishing stocks of fossil fuels and can produce large amounts of
greenhouse gases.
Most
electricity comes from coal fired power stations that release high levels of
CO2 and other pollutants into the environment. Losses in the transmission
system from the power station to your home also create inefficiency.
Electricity accounts for about 50 percent of the energy used in Australian
households, but creates around 85 percent of the greenhouse gas emissions
because most electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels. Fossil fuels
such as coal, oil and gas are non-renewable energy sources.
Renewable electricity power systems (REPS) use renewable
energy sources to produce electricity with very low greenhouse gas emissions.
Renewable energy sources such as the sun, wind and water are continuously
replenished from natural sources. Solar Energy (also known as Photovoltaic
Energy) has emerged as a major new source of renewable energy for use in the
home.
Photovoltaic technology has been used to power homes for
many years, and with good reason. Sufficient sunlight falls on Australia to
provide the nation's total energy needs. With a few solar modules the
homeowner can capture some of this abundant energy.
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