Home  >  For residents  >  Home & garden  >  Sustainable living  >  LoganSMART LoganSMART Climate change Your carbon emissions Easy Steps - Household Emissions Reduction Bigger Steps - Household Emissions Reduction Climate change Climate change (also referred to as global warming, or the greenhouse effect, and not to be confused with the ozone hole) has got a lot of attention in the media lately, and justifiably so. It is often referred to as the single greatest challenge currently facing human kind. The problem is caused by an excess amount of greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide, methane, and others, also collectively referred to as carbon emissions) in the atmosphere. The burning of fossil fuels such as coal, petrol and diesel results in emissions of these greenhouse gases. Once in the atmosphere, these gases allow heat from the sun to reach earth, but then not escape, resulting in too much warming or "greenhouse effect" of the planet.  The greenhouse effect is essential to maintain our climate but too much changes the climate. An increase in temperature is a problem for us for many reasons including that it will result in: a loss of biodiversity of our native animal and plant species, rises in sea level, more extreme weather events, changes in the ability of farms to produce food, reductions in rainfall or major changes to rainfall patterns and frequency. and losses of World Natural Heritage assets. The greater the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, the greater the warming, and the more severe the effects will be. Australia is often reported as being one of the nations with the most to loose from climate change. However, there is still hope. Scientists believe that we are still within the window of opportunity, where if we can significantly reduce emissions of greenhouse gases on a global scale we will be able to overt the more serious impacts of climate change. But we must act now, before it is too late. Not only is it up to governments to lead the way in reducing greenhouse emissions, but it is also imperative that individual citizens take responsibility for their emissions. Logan residents have already shown that they are able to do this, by meeting and exceeding the incredibly strict water usage restrictions over the past couple of years. Now we must also focus on carbon emissions. Save energy, save yourself money and help save the planet. Your carbon emissions The main carbon emissions which residents of Logan must take personal responsibility for are related to their use of electricity. As can be seen in the graph below depicting the carbon emissions of an average Australian household, the majority of emissions are due to electricity use.  Source: Abridged from Australian Government, 2007 - Global Warming: Cool-It. The majority of electricity in South East Queensland is produced by coal fired power stations. The primary ingredient of coal is carbon. When it is burned, carbon dioxide (CO2) is produced, which is the main greenhouse gas. Just over one kilogram of CO2 is emitted in the generation of every kilowatt hour (kWh) of electricity produced. The average house in South East Queensland uses 7,570 kWh per year, resulting in the emission of 7.9 tonnes of CO2! It is these emissions that we must all take responsibility for, and like we did with water, cut down on wastage and reduce our use. While reducing the consumption of water would save a household a small amount of money, a reduction in the use of electricity can save a lot, even hundreds of dollars a year can be saved in just a few easy steps. Easy Steps - Household Emissions Reduction Want to do the right thing by the planet, the next generation, and your wallet? Here's how. Turn off all your electrical equipment at the power point when not in use. Items like TVs, VCRs, DVD players, laser printers, washing machines, computer speakers, set top boxes, monitors, and stereos often have a "stand-by" function, often so that while it is turned off it can still detect if it is being turned on using a remote control, or to allow a quicker start up. If you had say, 7 items that each use 6 watts when in standby and are never turned off at the power point, it’s the same as having a 40 watt light bulb permanently on. By turning them all off at the power point when not in use you could save around $40 and 290 kg of CO2 a year! Convert your old incandescent light bulbs over to compact fluorescent globes. The cost of compact fluoros has come down massively in the last 10 years. You can now buy them at the supermarket for a couple of dollars each. Given that they last up to ten times longer and use only 20% of the electricity of a normal incandescent globe, it is obvious that these globes will save you a lot of money in the long run. From November 2009, it will not be possible to purchase incandescent light bulbs because of the Federal Government phase out. If you want to start saving money and reducing your CO2 emissions now rather than later, start converting over to fluoro's now. If a house uses five 60 watt incandescent bulbs for five hours every night, and replaces those with 12 watt fluoros, about 460 kg of CO2 and $65 a year could be saved! Even more could be saved by turning off all lights that are not in use. Please be aware of the safety directions with fluorescent globes. Use fans instead of air conditioners when it's hot. Compared to air conditioners, fans use next to no electricity. A typical pedestal fan uses only about 60 watts on high, whereas even a small plug-in air conditioner would use 2,000 watts. If you used a fan instead of a small air conditioner for 5 hours every day for 6 months, you could save 1.8 tonnes of CO2 and $260. If you are using a bigger air conditioner such as a hard wired model, or run it all the time, this amount could quickly double or triple. If you prefer air conditioning despite the extra cost and emissions, try to set it at 24 degrees in summer, and lower in winter such as 19 degrees.  This will use less electricity. In summer, close the windows and curtains during the day to keep the heat out. Then in the evening open the windows to let the cool breeze inside. In winter use the opposite method; open the curtains during the day to let the warmth in, then close them in the evening to keep it in. Do not use a clothes dryer. If you use a clothes dryer three times a week, you'll generate 620 kg's of CO2 per year and $90, compared to no cost or CO2 emissions if you use a washing line. In the perfect climate that Logan enjoys, there is no excuse for using a clothes dryer. Don't use the hot water cycle on your washing machine. If you have an electric hot water system, and do three loads a week in an upright washing machine with warm water, you'll use an estimated 780 kg of CO2 at a cost of about $110 just for the hot water. By only using cold water all of this CO2 and cost would be removed. Washing machines that heat their own water use even more electricity. Continue saving water, specifically hot water. Every 60 litres of water heated in a standard electric hot water system generates 4 kg of CO2 and costs about 60 cents. Install a water saving shower head if you haven't already. Take shorter showers or consider a solar hot water system and enjoy hot water free from the sun. Look after your refrigerator and freezer. Try not to set the thermostat too low, the colder it is the more electricity that will be used. Allow hot food to cool off before putting it inside. Locate fridges and freezers out of sunlight and in as cool spot as possible. Remember to close the fridge and freezer doors as quickly as you can. If any of the seals are broken, try to get them fixed as soon as you can. Turn off any second fridges (such as beer fridges) that are rarely used, then only use them when they are needed such as at Christmas. Use energy efficient practices when cooking: Use the microwave instead of the oven/stove when possible. Microwaves use about 90% less electricity than an oven. When using pots on the stove, use lids, and simmer gently instead of vigorous boiling - these are both more efficient. When using the oven, look through the window, don't open the door. Every time you open the door the temperature drops. When cooking rice, use an electric rice cooker instead of a microwave or stove top. Eat more fresh fruit and vegetables - cook less, be healthy and save money. If you are going away for more than a couple of days, turn off your electric hot water system. For every day it is turned off, you will save about 1.4 kg of CO2 and 20 cents. Purchase green power. Unless otherwise specified, all electricity used in the average Logan house is derived from the burning of coal in coal fired power stations. However, now that the electricity market in Queensland has been deregulated, you can choose which electricity retailer you want to go with and under which plan. Many of the retailers offer to source green electricity on your behalf. This green electricity may be produced from wind turbines, solar collectors, methane collected at landfills and burned (such as at the Browns Plains Smart Tip), or other renewable sources. Purchasing 20% green power is an easy way to quickly reduce your carbon footprint. The retailer may charge for the extra percentage of green power, or it may be offered free of charge so it's worth shopping around. If you really want to reduce your emissions you can even choose 100% green power. Also refer to the Federal Government's Green Power web site with independent information on accredited green power, including links to green energy providers. Cut down on the use of cars. For an average car, every 10 kilometres of travel results in the emission of about 2.5 kg of CO2; 4WD's emit more, while small fuel efficient cars emit less. No matter what sort of car you own, try to use more environmentally friendly methods of getting around instead where possible, such as public transport, walking, and bike riding. Or just find ways to travel more efficiently and cut down on petrol use that way, such as by completing several errands on the one trip, or using the telephone or internet instead where possible. Already doing all the easy steps? Here's some bigger steps you may be able to take. Bigger Steps - Household Emissions Reduction Convert your electric hot water system to a heat pump or solar powered system. Electric water heaters are not very efficient; a heat pump water heater uses about 75% less electricity, and a solar system uses about 85% less. With the federal government rebates currently available on heat pumps and solar systems, they now cost only a couple of hundred dollars more than electric systems. The savings in electricity means they will pay for themselves within 4 to 7 years. If your electric water heater is nearing the end of its working life it is definitely worth considering going for a solar or heat pump system, you'll save $200-$250 in electricity and up to 1.8 tonnes of CO2 a year! Install insulation into the ceiling. Insulation slows down the movement of heat in and out of a house, so in summer your house will be cooler, and in winter it will be warmer. Insulation can reduce the need for air conditioning and heating significantly. There are numerous types available. Paint your roof white or paint it with a heat reflective paint. Like insulation this helps to keep a house cooler in summer. Lighter coloured roofs or those covered with a heat reflective paint are much better at reflecting heat away from your house than dark coloured roofs which absorb heat.  This can significantly reduce the need for air conditioning. If you have an old refrigerator or freezer, upgrade to one that is only as big as you need, and has a high energy star rating. Information on energy star ratings of electrical equipment in Australia is available at the energy rating web site. Trade down to a smaller and/or more fuel efficient vehicle. They are often cheaper to purchase, and can save significant amounts in petrol costs and emissions over the life of the car. The green vehicle guide is a good on-line resource that can be used to help choose a new car.  You may also wish to offset your vehicle emissions with companies such as Greenfleet that plant native forests to compensate for the emissions.