Energy and Climate Presentation

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Eco‐Wise Action

This project was funded by the Department of Sustainability and Environment

Energy and Climate Change

Licensing arrangements

This information pack is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia licence. You are free to copy, communicate and adapt the work, so long as you attribute Environment Victoria and the use is for non commercial purposes. A copy of this licence is available at http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by‐nc/2.5/au/ or by writing to [email protected]. Please note there are some instances where some of the material is not issued under the Creative Commons Licence. All logos are protected by copyright. Some of the photos and diagrams in this PowerPoint presentation are also protected – see the notes section of each slide for licensing details, or links to licensing details, of the images in that slide.

Disclaimer

Environment Victoria provides the Eco‐Wise Action workshops as a guide. However, it cannot take responsibility or liability for any loss, damage or injury incurred as a result of the use of any of the information within this package. We recommend that you obtain appropriate professional advice and assistance where necessary.

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Today’s workshop• Interactive ‐ ask questions and share your stories!

• We learn from one another

• Fun!

Give an overview of today’s workshop:

During today’s workshop I will explain the benefits of saving energy, how to do a simple home energy checklist and review some actions that you might wish to take.

Also explain why the workshops are being offered and who is supporting them.

Image source: Environment Victoria, protected by the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia licence.

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Sustainability

• Living within our means

• Allowing our grandchildren to have the same opportunities we have

Discuss what sustainability is.

E.g. Sustainability is about ensuring that we use resources as efficiently as possible.

Image source: In the public domain

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59%21%

10%

4%3% 3%

59%21%

10%

4%4%

3%

What uses the most energy?

Refrigerator

Cooking

Water heating

Heating and cooling

Lighting

Appliances

Get participants to break into pairs and brainstorm together which of the things on the right use the most energy in the home (answers are on the next slide.)

Get them to also introduce themselves to each other and discuss what they hope to learn at the workshop, and then to report back to the group.

Graph source: Dept of Sustainability and Environment, 2006

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Home energy use

Water heating21%

Appliances10%

Heating + Cooling59%

Cooking3%

Lighting3%

Refrigerator4%

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Background information

Note: This overview is not trying to prove the link between greenhouse gases and climate change. Most scientist and governments around the world are already convinced that there is need to take action.There is not enough time in this workshop to debate climate change. If participants are keen to discuss this, suggest that they look at resources available in books and on the web. In addition to helping the environment, saving energy will also benefit participants by cutting their energy bills.

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energy issues

There are many issues with the level of energy we currently use.


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92 percent

Around 92 percent of the electricity produced in Victoria is from coal fired power stations. Coal, and especially the brown coal we use in Victoria, is one of the least climate-friendly ways of generating electricity.

This photo shows Hazelwood power station and its coal mine.

Image source: in the public domain

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Greenhouse Gases

Burning coal produces carbon dioxide (CO2) and other greenhouse gasses. Greenhouse gases are increasing in the atmosphere and act like a blanket,trapping extra heat. Trapping this extra heat is changing our climate

Image source: in the public domain

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Photo: Longhorndave

Climate Change will result in more extreme weather such as storms, cyclones and floods. In addition to floods, climate change is also likely to mean more drought (because rainfall will be less frequent, but more intense) and bushfires (from high temperatures during drought) .By using less energy from non-renewable sources, we can reduce the greenhouse gases we produce and reduce changes in climate.

Image source: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Longhorndave_-_Lightning_2_(by).jpg

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Rising Energy Prices

Energy prices are bound to go up.It makes sense to use energy efficiently to keep bills low.

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Efficient energy use does not mean going without

One way to keep the cost of energy down is make sure we are not wasting energy. Using less energy often just means being smarter about how we use things. For example low energy light globes last much longer than old style light globes and use much less energy, which means that you can save money in the long term while still getting plenty of light.

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Renewable Energy

Using renewable energy is a great way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.Some people can put solar panels on their homes or even a wind turbines in their backyard.For most of us it’s easier and cheaper to buy accredited GreenPower through our electricity company.

Image sources: Wind turbine on the right is in the public domain. The other two pictures are by Environment Victoria and protected by the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia licence.

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Saving energy at home

Lets talk about saving energy at home.By using resources efficiently we can reduce our energy bills.A typical home uses about 17 kilowatt hours of electricity a day. An energy efficient household of four uses about five kilowatt hours a day.Have a look at your electricity bills to see what your daily use is. You can probably reduce your use by 10 percent by taking some simple actions.We can live comfortably (and even improve comfort doing things like stopping draughts).And by making changes, we help reduce harm to the environment.There are lots of different options for you to consider.Some simple actions can save you money right away, while others require more work including purchasing items. You may need to get help with installing things.Keep in mind is that one size does not fit all. Find solutions that suit your needs.

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Home energy use

Water heating21%

Appliances10%

Heating + Cooling59%

Cooking3%

Lighting3%

Refrigerator4%

Earlier we saw that the top two areas where energy is used are:1. Heating and cooling the rooms in your home can account for more

than half of your energy bill each year! 2. Water heating comes next at about one fifth.This helps us to figure out where to start with reducing energy use.Remember that these are typical figures and you may have already

reduced the energy use for heating and cooling which will mean that making changes in other areas will have an even bigger effect.

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www.greenpower.gov.au

The single easiest action you can do to significantly reduce your household greenhouse gas emissions is to switch your electricity from coal generated electricity (regular electricity) to electricity from renewable sources, for examplewind or solar power. This is known as GreenPower. It is available from most electricity providers and changing over is as simple as a phone call.

Each electricity provider is different and has differing conditions of their product. The important qualifier is that that the greenpower is accredited GreenPower. If it is accredited GreenPower then they are able to use the GreenPower logo shown. You can check who provides accredited GreenPower on the website www.greenpower.gov.au.

Typically it costs on average $6 more per week to have 100 percent accredited GreenPower. To reduce the extra cost get 50 percent, 25 percent or 10 percent GreenPower,which are cheaper.

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You can save a lot of energy by only heating or cooling the space (or zone) that is being used, for example the living room. Close all doors leading in/out of that space. Why heat or cool the bedrooms all evening, when you’re not actually going to be in them till you go to bed?

Image source: In the public domain

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Don’t heat or cool your home all night or while you are out. Turn heaters and coolers off or install a timer.Turn down the thermostat – for each 1°C the heating is set over 21°C, about 10 percent is added to your heating bill. Aim to have heating at 19-21°C in winter, and cooling at 24-27°C in summer. If your heating or cooling system doesn’t have a thermostat, put a thermometer in the room to check the temperature yourself.Isn’t it funny that in summer we sometimes cool our houses to below the temperature we would have the house in winter, and then heat the house in winter to a temperature above that we would have the house in summer?When we all turn our air conditioners on extremely hot days the demand on the electricity grid peaks, which can causes blackouts. Blackouts harm vulnerable people like the elderly who can literally die from hot temperatures. This peak demand is summer also drives the construction of more power stations.


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What’s the best form of heating?

We could spend the whole workshop discussing heating. In general:Gas heaters (where natural gas is available) and reverse cycle heat pumps with 4 stars or more are the most efficient heaters. The initial cost is higher but cost in the long-term is lower.Heaters with thermostats and timers allow you to reduce the time that the heater is on and can help reduce running costs.

Portable heaters such as bar and fan heaters are cheap to buy but expensive to run.Go for one with a thermostat and a fan, which is the right size for the room you want to heat. Generally you need 100 watts or 0.5 megajoules per square metre for a room with an insulated ceiling and an average ceiling height.

If you are interested in wood heating, make sure they wood is sustainably harvested. Wood isn’t a great option in the city because of particulate pollution, but this is less of a problem in the country. Open fireplaces are very inefficient, while slow combustion stoves (an enclosed metal box which sits in the fireplace) are a good option, if you use them well.

Image source: all Environment Victoria, protected by the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia licence.

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www.energyrating.gov.au

When you buy a new appliance look at the energy rating label. The more stars the better.All of the following electrical products must carry an energy rating label: refrigerators and freezers, washing machines and dryers, televisions, dish washers and air conditionersStars compare similar sizes and types of appliances so it is important to consider the estimated energy consumption number in kilowatt hours per year. E.g. Alarge refrigerator might have a high star rating because it is efficient compared to other large refrigerators. However if you only need a small refrigerator you will use less kilowatt hours per year if you buy a small one, even if it has a low star rating.You can search the star ratings of different models at www.energyrating.gov.au.

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What’s the best form of cooling?

Start by keeping the heat from entering the building in the first place, for example with ceiling insulation, by shading windows from the sun and closing curtains. These make a big difference.Only cool rooms that are being used.Fans have the lowest running costs, purchase price, energy use and greenhouse gas emissions relative to other cooling.Evaporative coolers are relatively energy efficient but need water to work. You can get portable ones that can be used for a single room rather than cooling the whole house.Refrigerated coolers (also known as reverse cycle or split system) use a lot of energy. However some are much more energy efficient than others.Thermostats and timers will help reduce use and keep the cost down.

Image sources: in the public domain.

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Insulation

Installing insulation is one of the best things you can do to save energy in the home. It will make your home more comfortable and reduce both heating and cooling bills. Insulating the roof is the highest priority, and then the walls and floors.Reflective foil insulation installed inside your roof will help keep the summer heat out.It is easy to install insulation yourself, but can be dangerous. Make sure you get safety information first, or get an installer to put it in.If you have downlights, make sure you put downlight covers on them to keep insulation away (or replace them before adding insulation).If your insulation is over 20 years old it may have compacted and become ineffective. New insulation can be added on top of it.Insulation batts can be made of recycled polyester threads, recycled paper pulp, rockwool or natural wool as well as glass. Cost saving from insulation means that it pays for itself, and there are also government rebates available.

Image source: copyright Fletcher Insulation.

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Draughts:Seal draughts with draught excluders on windows, sealing tape around doors, door sealing flaps and even a simple draught snake for the gaps under doors (take care as these can be a tripping hazard).Draft seals come in different thicknesses to fill in the size of gap.Tip: Find air leaks using a lit candle. Watch the flame to see where the draughts are! Air leaks result in heat loss from the home in winter and heat gain in summer –blocking them is one of the cheapest ways of making a difference to your energy use.Block unused fireplaces – this is a major draught to look out for!

Image source: Environment Victoria, proteced by the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia licence

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Some examples of products for sealing gaps, clockwise from top left:•Door snake•Sealants – these come in tubes, and are used to fill in gaps, for example around windows or between floor boards•Weather stripping – self-adhesive foam strips which stuck around windows and doors to fill gaps.•Putting up weather stripping

These products are cheap to buy, easy to use and available at hardware stores.

Image source: all Environment Victoria, protected by the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia licence.

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Stopping exhaust fan draughts

Ceiling exhaust fans can allow draughts to enter your house. A good solution is the DraftStoppa, which fits on top of fans inside the roof cavity.When the fan is off the flaps on the stopper sit down and seal off the fan so hot air cannot rise up and through the fan.When the fan is turned on the air blown up by the fan lifts the flaps and allows the air to escape into the ceiling cavity.Photo on left is a fan without the DraftStoppa, in the centre is with the DraftStoppa, on the right is the DraftStoppa on its own.DraftStoppas are available for about $30 from environment shops and some hardware stores and the only installation is sitting it on top of the fan (which also means that renters can use them).

Image sources: left and center photo copyright Stuart Nesbitt; right photo from Environement Victoria and protected by the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia licence.

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The amount of sun a room receives depends on which ways the windows face and if they are shaded.Imagine getting in a car on a cold but sunny day and feeling the warmth that the sun has generated in the car. Or hopping into a car in the middle of summer, when the temperature inside is far higher than outside.It’s a good idea to in winter to make use of the rooms which get lots of sun, and in summer to use them less.

Image source: Environment Victoria, protected by the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia licence

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cold outside

warm air rises

air near window gets cooled and falls

cool airwindow

worst

Windows conduct heat and cold well - if you touch a window when it is cold outside you can feel the difference compared to the room temperature. This means they let the heat out of your house in winter, and in in summer.

The worst way to deal with this is to do nothing to protect your window. As you can see from the diagram, in winter the window cools the air next to it, which sinks and spreads around the room.


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cold outside

warm air rises

cool airwindow

air near window gets cooled and falls

no pelmet allows air to slip behind curtain

curtain

better

The better option is to install thick curtains or solid (not slatted) blinds.

However as you can see from the diagram, the air next to the window still cools and sinks, sucking down warm air over the top of the curtain.


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pelmet

You can solve this by getting a pelmet - a box which sits over the top of the curtain rod. Many older homes have them and an increasing number of people are installing them because they work. They don’t have to be big, padded and floral!


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cold outside

warm air rises

window

pelmet stops air slipping behind curtain

curtain

best

Window pelmets prevent the warm air circulation behind the curtain or blind and reduce heat loss (in the winter) or gain (in the summer).If commercial pelmets are too expensive for you, there are cheaper options. A scarf laid across the curtain rod can do the same thing, or you can make your own pelmets out of cardboard.

Another good option is double glazing. Double glazed windows have two panes of glass instead of one, and the space between the two panes forms an insulating layer. However, it is costly to fit double glazed windows.


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To stop heat getting into the house in summer, use external blinds or shade sails – shading your windows can reduce heat gain through the windows by 70-85%. Itis much better to stop the heat entering the house to start with than to try and deal with it once it is in the house.

These old canvas blinds work but if you are installing new ones consider shadecloth. Canvas can heat up and radiate heat through your window.No need to put external blinds on the shady or southern side windows, which do not receive direct sunlight.Ensure they are easy to operate, to accommodate the your needs.

Also close curtains and blinds during the day in summer,then open windows and doors when the cool change comes in the evening.


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Another option is to stick resistant tint on the window pane. This is good for summer, but limits the amount of sun getting in in winter, when you want it. Agood alternative is to get reflective foil blinds that can be rolled down when you need them in summer, or reflective stuff which you can stick up with Velcro dots stuck to the glass, and then take down in winter.


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Trees can provide shade for north and west facing windows. Deciduous trees (like the one on the left) drop their leaves in winter which allows the winter sun to warm the house and lets in natural light.

The tree in front of house on the right keep their leaves all year round. Thehouse will be nice and cool in summer, but will lose out on light and warmth in the winter.

Image source: both Environment Victoria, protected by the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia licence

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Photo: eelke dekker

Water heating is one fifth of energy use in a typical home. Using hot water is not only a water problem, it’s also an energy problem.

Image source: http://www.flickr.com/photos/eelkedekker/3238716097/

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Find the thermostat on the hot water service and check it is set to around 60° C if it is a storage hot water system (a large tank) and 50°C or less if it is an instantaneous hot water system (a small box on the wall). You can usually change the temperature setting by turning a knob.For storage hot water, 60° C is hot enough for household needs and ensures no bacteria builds up in the system. It will also reduce scalding.Some systems might not have a thermostat available or need a registered plumber to adjust.Turn off your hot water heater when you go on vacation or turn it down (e.g. to the vacation setting in the picture).


http://www.flickr.com/photos/eelkedekker/3238716097/

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Fit a water saving or low flow showerhead – this saves both the water and also the energy needed to heat the water. Most water retailers provide these for free. Flexible arm showerheads are also available.Water saving showerheads use 7 to 9 litres per minute, while old style showerheads use 15 to 20 litres per minute. Water saving showerheads still feel like a good shower, but use less energy and water.


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The shorter the shower the better: Aim for a 4 minute shower or shorter. Use a shower timer. We all know how easy it is get into the shower and lose track of time. Shower timers are cheap, and available from hardware stores, water retailers and environment shops.Digital shower timers can be set to less than 4 minutes.


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Insulating hot water pipes

Another way of increasing the efficiency of the hot water service is to insulate the pipes which are outside, and run into and from the water heater.The insulation is called lagging and can simply be taped into place.It’s easier if you get lagging which is already cut along its length (like in the picture) and which is self-adhesive.You can paint the lagging with UV resistent exterior paint to prevent it from breaking down in the sunlight.


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Green House Gas per year (tonnes)(source: Global Warming - Cool It Australian Green House Office)

0.30

0.95

1.05

1.80

4.00

gas boostered solar

gas instantaneous

gas storage

solar - electric

electric - storage

(based on 140 litres of hot water per day)

Which hot water system emits the most greenhouse gases?

4 tonnes

1.8 tonnes

1.05 tonnes

0.95 tonnes

0.3 tonnes

Electric storage

Electricity boosted solar

Gas storage

Gas instantaneous

Gas boosted solar

(Emissions per year, for 140 litres of hot water a day – enough for a family.)Solar hot water systems boosted with gas is the most efficient form of water heating in Victoria.Your roof but doesn’t need to face directly north – especially if you install evacuated tubes instead of flat panels.Solar hot water systems cost more than conventional systems to buy but they save money in the long term by reducing energy bills. There are government rebates available for this.

Generally, gas water heaters are the next most efficient and electric systems are the least. For people who use very little hot water (e.g. small households), instantaneousgas hot water heater is a good option, and will save more than in this graph. (Instantaneous hot water systems are small boxes on the wall, as opposed to storage, which are large tanks.)Heat pumps are a good option if you can’t install solar and don’t have access to gas. These use the same technology as a reverse cycle air conditioner.Get professional advice before installing, and look into federal and state rebates available.

Storage systems, where water is heated in a large tank, are the most common. These systems keep the water warm even when it is not being used and are therefore less efficient and more costly to run!

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Solar, gas and heat pump hot water rebates

Rebates (as at March 2010 – may need updating)

Solar and Heat Pump Hot Water Rebate•You can get a state or federal government rebate. Gas Hot Water Rebate•Rebate of $300-700 for replacing a peak electric hot water system with a high efficiency gas hot water system.Without rebates, solar hot water systems cost roughly $2,000 to $5,000 to buy and install.This picture shows a flat panel solar hot water heater with the water tank on the roof. The water tank can also be on the ground and the collectors can be evacuated tubes that can collect the sun’s energy from more angles.


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You can also save energy by washing using cold water – it’s better for the clothes and saves the energy used to heat the water.While we sometimes need to use heavy cycles, light (or economy) cycles use less energy and are gentler on clothes.Only wash with a full load – this will save about 10 litres of water per wash.


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Dry the clothes using a washing line or clothes rack wherever possible. If a dryer is used, clean the lint filter after each load. If you are buying a new dryer, consider a gas dryers.


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Standby power is the energy an appliance uses when you are not using it but itisn’t fully switched off. If your TV, VCR, microwave or computer has a red or green light or clock glowing when you are not using it or is operated by remote control, then it is using standby power and wasting energy.

Standby power can account for 10 percent of the energy you buy. Turn standby appliances off at the power point.

The time on the clock will be wrong if you turn off standby power. But you probably have another clock somewhere. TVs, radios and video recorders will keep their station settings even when the power is turned off. With computers, as long as you save your work and shut down the computer correctly nothing will be lost. However modems need to be left on.


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Dealing with standby

Sometimes it is difficult to reach the power point. Here are some ways to turn off standby energy easily. •Left photo: Plug everything into a power board, so you can turn the whole lot off with one switch. This works well when you have a computer, printer and scanner all in one place.•Other photos: You can buy power boards or switches that have a remote control switch so you can switch off appliances without getting to the power point. While this still uses standby power to run the remote, it will be far less than if you have say a TV, video and stereo all on standby, and is well suited to places where you can’t reach power point switches.

Image source: all Environment Victoria, protected by the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 Australia licence

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Fridges

Fridges run everyday all year round, so it is important to make sure that they run as efficiently as possible.Keep a space between the wall and the rear of the fridge for the air to circulate, preventing overheating and allowing the cooling system to work efficiently.If your fridge has a grill on the back, vacuum it occassionally.Ensure that the seals on the fridge are in good condition to keep in all of the cold air.Switch off any extra fridges and save a lot of money and energy.


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Check the temperature in your fridge and freezer using a thermometer. Fridges should be at 4°C, and freezers at 15°C below zero.They might need adjusting depending on the season.Your fridge uses more energy when it is empty than when it’s full.


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Is your fridge

the right size?

Is the fridge the right size for your needs?If it is too large it will be wasting energy to refrigerate a few items. It takes more energy to cool air so put some containers filled with water into your fridge if it does’t have much in it.Or better still, switch to a smaller fridge.


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Use compact fluorescent lights

$88$60

per light!

$18

Downlight IncandescentCompact fluorescent

•Lighting is about one 1/20th of household emissions and is an easy way to reduce emissions, and will also reduce energy bills. •The slide shows the total cost of running the globes for 8000 hours, including purchase price. •Use natural light where ever possible.Using compact fluorescent globes •Use the lowest wattage globe needed to adequately light an area.•Choose high quality fluorescent lights•Generally warm white is best for homes.•When you are leaving the room for longer than 10 minutes, switch off the lights.•Do not put in rubbish bins due to mercury. They can be dropped off at DetoxYour Home collections.•Special compact fluorescent lights can be dimmed.•Downlights are an inefficient form of lighting as most of the energy becomes heat. They are also a fire hazard.

Image sources: in the public domain

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Where practical, use a microwave rather than an electric stove top to cook, as it uses much less energy.


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Heat-producing appliances, e.g. heaters, clothes dryers, kettles, irons, etc., use the most energy! Only use these appliances when necessary.Only heat the water that is actually intended to be used, e.g. if making only two cups of tea, then only boil enough water for two cups of tea. You can even purchase eco-kettles that you can fill and then only boil the amount of water you need.


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Set cooling at 24° to 27°C (use a thermometer if you don’t have a thermostat).

In summer, is the cooling set too low, i.e. too cool?

Yes

Set heating at 19° to 21°C (use a thermometer if you don’t have a thermostat).

In winter, is the heating set too high, i.e. too warm?

Yes

Heat or cool the areas being used rather than paying to heat/cool empty rooms

Close doors to stop warm/cool air from escaping to rooms that aren’t being used

Block draughts between heated or cooled rooms and rooms that aren’t being used

Do you heat or cool just the rooms you are using?

No

Easy Actions

Heating and cooling

Using the home checklist

Here is an example of how the home checklist in the booklet is structured for easy of use.On the left hand side (participants’ left) are questions. For example, “Do you heat or cool just the room you are using?” If it’s a yes, leave it blank and move to the next question. If it’s a no, tick the box and follow the arrow to the right hand side.On the right hand side (participants’ right) is a list of possible solutions to help solve the issue. Tick the recommendation which you think is most appropriate for you. If none are appropriate, leave it blank.The checklist will guide you to look at what is happening in your home and then offer possible solutions. When you implement solutions at home, be sure to involve the whole family or your housemates - there is not much point installing a shower timer if no one uses it. Introduce changes gradually, starting with those that the people you live with are likely to adopt.Don’t try to fix everything all at the one time.

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any questions?

We have looked at energy and climateWe have looked at the home checklist that is part of the booklet.Let me know if there are any questions you would like to have answered.

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What do you want to do?

Please take a few minutes to tick the things you would like to do around your home on the pledge form.Share your ideas about what you want to do with people who are here today, your friends and family.

Note to presenter: Everyone is more likely to do something they want to do if they tell a friend that they plan to do it.

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Tell us what you thought of this session

We would appreciate your comments on today’s sessionThis will help us to make the next workshop better.

Note to presenter: The energy session may be long and you may not have time for participants to fill out a form; however, it is a good idea to find out if there was anything that participants liked or disliked about the first session so you can make any changes needed.

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Next workshop:water

Remind participants when the next workshop will take place.

Energy and Climate Presentation

Documents

brown coal

image source

power stations

greenhouse gasses

greenhouse gases

imageso energy

carbon dioxide co2