Energy efficiency

In Australia, we get about 88 per cent of our electricity by burning coal. That’s why our electricity pumps out more greenhouse pollution than any other pollution source in Australia.

If we are more efficient with our energy use, we can make important cuts in our greenhouse pollution.

How much do we need to save?

Because Australia has some of the cheapest electricity in the world, most of us don’t pay much attention to our electricity bill. So we don’t notice the huge amounts of energy we waste.

But industry, businesses and householders across Australia are starting to realise that, if they save energy, they save money and the environment.

At the same time, our governments tell us that we’re facing an energy crisis, with demand outstripping supply, and that we need to build new infrastructure. Studies and practical examples show that, if governments focus on achievable energy efficiency programs, they can avoid the expense and hassle of building more power stations.

Energy efficiency programs

The potential of energy efficiency programs is enormous. A report for the Council of Australian Governments, signed off by all state, territory and federal leaders, concludes that we could cut energy use by up to 30 per cent with available technologies that have a payback time of just four years.

Here is an example of an energy efficiency program:

All businesses should be required by the government to conduct energy audits to learn how they can save energy and money. Most importantly, they would then be required to cut their business’s energy use by the maximum while retaining a payback period of four years or less.

The economic efficiency and environmental gains from this kind of policy are impressive. And they are just there, waiting for us to start using them!

What are we waiting for?

11 easy ways to save energy at home

Learn about energy smart business at the New South Wales Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability website.