Households must act now to become energy efficient

Weekend Australian
Saturday 24/3/2007, Page: 4
Don Henry

This is not just something for future generations to worry about. Climate change is already reducing the amount of water available to many Australian cities, towns, rural areas and bushland. A recent Victorian Government report shows significantly reduced inflows to that state's rivers and streams in the past 10 years. The trend is similar in most other states and is expected to continue.

CSIRO scientists predict by 2050 climate change will have reduced, water flowing into the rivers of the Murray Darling Basin by 16-35 per cent - if we don't act to cut greenhouse pollution. Water shortages are just one of the impacts of global warming.

Bushfire risk is increasing as temperatures rise. Cyclones are becoming more severe. Species are being pushed to extinction by rapidly changing conditions. And all this is being fuelled by humans' increasingly greenhouse-polluting lifestyles.

But here's the rub: we still have time to avoid dangerous climate change. But we must act now - governments, businesses, community groups, households and individuals. The best science is telling us we must reduce greenhouse emissions by at least 60 per cent by the middle of this century. That's the target Tony Blair has set for the UK. Other leaders are aiming higher. California's governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has set an 80 per cent by 2050 target for his US state.

Governments need to urgently introduce strong laws that will dramatically cut greenhouse pollution, boost renewables (such as wind and solar) and cut energy waste.

Corporates with an eye on the future realise we cannot afford to wait. A report by the Australian Business Roundtable on Climate Change, which includes big companies BP, Westpac, JAG, Origin, Swiss Re and Visy, shows early action to reduce emissions is not only affordable, but will cost a lot less than delaying action.

The Roundtable report, backed by scientific research from CSIRO and economic modelling from Allen Consulting, calls for a long, loud and legal price signal on carbon. This means legislating to put a dollar value on greenhouse pollution as a way to cut climate changing CO2 emissions and drive investment in climate friendly technologies.

Of course there are many things we can all do to reduce our impact on the environment. By switching to green power, offered by most energy retailers, some or all the electricity you use will be sourced from renewable energy sources, directly reducing greenhouse pollution.

There are lots of things you can do around the house. Heating water uses lots of energy. The average electric hot water system produces up to four tonnes of greenhouse pollution per year. By turning down the thermostat by as little as five degrees, you can reduce energy consumption by as much as 5 per cent. Better still, solar hot water makes greenhouse pollution zero.

Washing your clothes in cold water cuts power bills and greenhouse gases. So does hanging your washing on the line instead of sticking it in a clothes dryer. Having shorter showers saves energy and water.

Remember not to over-cool or over-heat your home. A change of just 1 degree between the temperature inside and outside alters energy consumption levels and greenhouse pollution by up to 10 per cent.

No matter what sort of heating or cooling system you have, only heat or cool the rooms you are using. Close curtains to reduce heat loss and don't leave the system running when you've left the house. And of course dress for the weather. Don't turn on the heater. if you're wearing shorts and a tee-shirt.

The bottom line is we all have to make changes. And the good news is, people are. Through involvement in the Australian Conservation Foundation's GreenHome program this year, 335 Sydney residents have made huge savings for the environment. Householders have taken action in their homes to reduce their environmental footprint and do their bit to halt global warming.

Their combined actions have saved 31 million litres of water (equivalent to 31 Olympic swimming pools), 3000 tonnes of greenhouse pollution (equivalent to taking about 500 cars off the road) and have prevented 250,000 litres of waste (or about 1,040 wheelie bins) from going to landfill.

Our children will judge us very harshly if we ignore the truth about climate change simply because we thought it an inconvenience.

Don Henry is executive director of the Australian Conservation Foundation.