Sunday 17/12/2006 Page: 8
VICTORIANS are leading the nation in dumping conventional "dirty" coal-generated electricity in favour of renewable energy, new figures released exclusively to The Sunday Age reveal. As the Federal Government begins to grapple with the issue of a rapidly warming planet, more than 130,000 Victorian households have taken action of their own and opted for slightly more expensive green power.
The state now accounts for almost half of all Australian households buying their electricity from non-greenhouse emitting sources, such as wind, hydro and solar. Vikas Ahujo, Sustainability Victoria's renewable expert, said the rapid uptake of green power was due to people valuing the environment and being willing to pay a bit extra to protect it.
"People see green power is the best way to reduce their ecological footprint because electricity is our greatest impact on the environment," he said.
Electricity generation accounts for about 70 per cent of the state's emissions, double that from vehicles, and 90 per cent of it comes from brown coal, one of the worst emitters of global warming carbon gases.
In the three months to September, 22,000 Victorian households switched to government accredited renewable power. Nationally, green power sales soared 59 per cent over the year, Sustainability Victoria says. "Any electricity retailer would give both arms and legs to get that type of customer uptake," Mr Ahujo said.
The rise in Victoria is the equivalent of taking 9847 cars off the state's roads. In addition, Victorian families have spent $26 million since 2000 installing solar panels on their homes and another $35 million converting their hot water systems to solar.
The State Government has funded two campaigns encouraging Victorians to reduce household emissions. They were bookended by the publication of Tim Flannery's Weather Makers and the Stern Review by former World Bank chief economist Nicholas Stern. The State Government's $1.5 million "black balloon" television advertisement screened this year has won international praise, with Britain and Canada considering adopting the campaign. Former US vice-president Al Gore was also planning to take it back to the United States.
State minister for Climate Change John Thwaites told The Sunday Age it was important for all Australians to consider taking up green power.
"This is an important way of reducing our greenhouse gas emissions and complements Government initiatives such as the Victorian Renewable Energy Target scheme, which will require 10 per cent of Victoria's energy to come from renewable sources such as windfarms by 2016," Mr Thwaites said.
Steve Harris, manager, environment market, for Origin Energy, which has been offering green power for a couple of years, said electricity from renewable sources was being used to grab market share as retail competition intensified.
"Clearly others have seen the success we have had so they are offering green products as well," Mr Harris said. The cost of green energy ranges from $1 a week for 20 per cent of power from renewables to $5 for 100 per cent renewable energy.
How you can help:
- Take reusable bags when you go shopping and refuse plastic bags.
- Install or top up insulation in ceilings.
- Start a compost heap.
- Take shorter showers - keep it to under 5 minutes instead of the average 8 minutes.
- Switch appliances off at the power point wherever possible.
- Use your recycling bin and make sure you know what can be recycled.
- Avoid plastic wrap by storing leftovers in the refrigerator in bowls covered with a saucer or a small plate.
- Buy products with less packaging.
- Install a AAA-rated shower-head and a dual-flush toilet.
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