Ways to reduce your greenhouse gas emissions - GHG Energy Calc ...

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SIX THINGS WE CAN DO TO CUT OUR EMISSIONS 2200 L of fuel 6 cyl car 2200 L 1. Only of drive fuel a car when 6 there’s cyl car a need to carry passengers or a load 3. Reduce electricity use and purchase renewable electricity (RE) In 20,000 km, a car uses more than its weight of fuel and emits 6.2 tonnes of CO2 gas= 3,500 cubic metres(Enough to fill a 4 story building) 2200 L of fuel 6 cyl car Cars are the biggest source of domestic emissions; embodied emissions* from manufacture adds 24% over and above the 6 t CO2e of tailpipe emissions. If you drive 20,000 km per year in a typical 6 cylinder car, you are responsible for nearly 8 tonnes CO2e/ year from this source alone! • Going by train or bus emits 90% less CO2 e. By changing from coal fired to renewable electricity, a typical household can save 6 t CO2e/ year. Tel 131353 in WA. Website: www.wpcorp.com.au . Solar or gas heating produces 50%. • Replace electric hot water system with solar/ gas or ‘heat pump’ (uses < 1/3 the electricity of element). Install water saver shower head. • Replace all incandescent globes with CF’s. • Use fans, evaporative or room reverse cycle air conditioners; avoid large ducted systems. Only heat or cool the room you are in. Set thermostats heating 21° cooling 26° (each degree C of A/C increases emissions by 10%). Dress appropriately for the temperature. • Choose ‘4 or 5 star’ rated fridge & washing machine; don’t buy larger than you need. • Switch electrical appliances off at the wall when not in use. • Choose a laptop computer; small flat screen TV. Large screens waste energy. Due to the extra global warming effect of nitrous oxides and contrails emitted in the upper atmosphere, jet emissions have 2-4 times more global warming effect** than the CO2 from the same amount of fuel used by a road vehicle. Air travel is estimated to have as much global warming impact, per passenger, as one person driving the same distance in a medium sized car (more for short-haul flights). Ocean liners have a similar impact, due to the huge mass of ship (20-50 t) per passenger. • Holiday in your own country by bus or train or car with a full passenger load. • Limit overseas travel to fewer trips for long stays. • ‘Teleconference’ instead of flying to conferences. • Go economy class; business and first class seats account for 2-3 times the space and emissions. T H E O I L A N D G A S ‘ P E A K ’ I S I M M I N E N T The rate of extraction of oil has ‘peaked’ and will decline in future as reserves are depleted. Natural gas will likewise ‘peak’ before 2030 (ASPO, 2006) causing continual price increases. Australia’s oil reserves are projected to run out by 2040 (ABS, 2001) and we are already importing around 30% of our oil needs. Renewable fuel options are limited and will be expensive. To fuel Australia’s road transport with bio-diesel, the area of land now cropped (for food) would have to double and this is clearly impossible. Disclaimer: The Author accepts no liability whatsoever, by reason of negligence or otherwise, arising from the use or release of any of the information in this booklet or any part of it.
4. Watch your diet 2200 L of fuel 6 cyl car * E M B O D I E D E N E R G Y is the energy used in the production of all goods, e.g. food, vehicles, houses, containers and packaging, most of it is sourced from fossil fuels. The greenhouse gases emitted in production processes are called EMBODIED EMISSIONS. These comprise 10-25% of the emissions from land transport and most of the emissions from food, waste, housing and possessions. Production of some foods is a major source of emissions. • Eat more fresh local, vegetable and grain foods; less meats and processed, packaged foods and drinks. The embodied energy (and emissions) per kg of cheese or butter or red meats produced is equivalent to 1-2L of diesel and is at least 8 times that used to produce 1 kg of bread! Ruminant animals − cattle and sheep − also emit methane, (20 times the global warming effect of CO2) from their digestive process. One lactating cow emits 2.2 tonnes CO2e / year. Diet type | t CO2e/p/year - Vegetarian – fresh, local, home made drinks, minimal packaging; no meals out | 0.9 - White meats, local brands, some dairy; bottled drinks; few meals out | 1.7 - Red meat & dairy products, dine out a lot; imported, packaged & bottled foods drinks | 3.8 Lobby for Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) labeling, including embodied energy/ emissions (EE) figures to enable choice of ‘green’ products. 5. Minimize the amount of rubbish discarded to landfill REDUCE – RE-USE – RECYCLE • Minimize purchases of containers, packaging and papers. This can reduce a high consuming household’s emissions by over 3 t CO2e. Metal, plastic and glass bottles have the highest embodied emissions*. • Listen to news on TV or radio. Buy fewer newspapers and glossy magazines. Newspapers are 1-3 kg of paper, most of which is advertising you don’t want. • About 38% of our waste is paper and cardboard Recycle paper, glass, plastics and metals. Use a compost bin or worm farm for household food scraps and organic wastes. By recycling and composting, an average household can save 0.5 – 1.0 t of embodied* and methane emissions. 6. Choose a house appropriate to family size and select products carefully A 5 bedroom/ 2 bathroom brick/ tile house accounts for about 2.5t CO2e embodied emissions per year over a 60 year life compared to 0.5 t for a 3 bedroom 120 sq. m timber house. However the energy used for heating and cooling the home is at least 5 times the embodied energy. The following measures cut costs and emissions of heating and cooling a home by more than 50%: • Avoid heating or cooling unutilized space. • Insulate the home fully (roof and walls). • Install passive solar design features, such as north facing windows with eaves, awnings and ventilation to enable cooling by sea breezes. Shade east and west facing windows and minimize glass area. • Use lighter, low energy and insulating materials where practical in new homes and renovations, with internal thermal mass, e.g. concrete slab. Contents and other possessions generally account for more embodied emissions than your house. Furnishings for a large house with more than one of most appliances (fridge/freezers, TVs, computers), dishwasher, >100 kg of books, large lounge suites, several beds, several large wardrobes of expensive clothes and a boat or caravan accounts for about 5 t of embodied CO2e per year, compared to about 1.2 tonnes for basic possessions in a small home. • Hire, share or borrow rather than buy things that will not be used often. Note: t CO2e is tonnes of greenhouse gases emitted, expressed in carbon dioxide equivalents. ** see link: www.ipcc.ch/pub/aviation.pdf © Copyright. Ben Rose, 2003 - 2007. Energy / CO2e auditor. biroses@westnet.com.au
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