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Energy
Five years ago, who thought that energy and how we produce it would become the most important issue we face? Ten years ago we didn’t even know where electricity came from. How many of us ever gave a thought to the relationship between our energy use and our environment.
"For too long, we have failed to give a value to our climate. We have failed to put a price on pollution. We have overlooked the Earth’s atmosphere with regard to greenhouse gases with no accountability for what happens next." - Senator Penny Wong, Minister for Climate Change, 2008
MYTHS
We don’t use much energy. We don’t produce many greenhouse gases in energy production. A lot of the energy that we do use comes from clean sources like wind and solar.
FACTS
Australia has one of the highest rates of greenhouse gas emissions per capita in the world, and Victoria has the highest rate in Australia. It’s official we are the world champions of - pollution. We are the worst when we need to be the best.
How did this happen? How did we become world champs? Blame our coal: we are cursed (or blessed, depending on who you talk to) with an abundance of brown coal in Victoria.
Burning brown coal for energy is one of the most polluting activities you can do. In fact, the polluting Hazelwood power station in the La Trobe Valley emits 17 million tons of carbon every year – the worst rate in the developed world.
On top of that, the burning of brown coal in power stations around the state is responsible for 60% of Victoria’s total greenhouse gas emissions.
The fact that our government sees the worst polluting facility in the world as a blessing is interesting. It's like saying we are blessed with the world’s largest deposit of asbestos. It’s like saying that not having seat belts in a fast car full of teenagers is a blessing.
On the other hand, Victorians have taken been the quickest to switch to greenpower (electricity from clean sources) with more than 15% of households making the switch. But we're about to be overtaken! Queensland is hot on our heels and is predicted to become the state with the highest share of green power customers by 2010! In the spirit of inter-state rivalry, we urge all Victorians to do their bit to keep the greenpower crown down here! Sign up today!
"Sometimes I wonder whether the world is being run by smart people who are putting us on, or by imbeciles who really mean it." - Mark Twain
Latest information
And now for some good news about energy...
June 28th, 2010
Let's face it: green fatigue is real. It's hard to keep caring when all you hear is bad news. And that's why we all need a bit of good news. We need to be reminded that good things are happening, and the world isn't falling to pieces just yet.
Solar's hot, even when the sun is not
February 2nd, 2012
Generally speaking, in the darkest, cloudiest hour on the gloomiest day, your solar system will be generating as much as 25 per cent of a normal clear day output. On a day with light cloud cover, your system could be achieving as much as 50 per cent of a normal clear-day's hour of production.
White's all right for a cool change to city's buildings
January 27th, 2012
A joint study by Melbourne University and the City of Melbourne has found that white roofs can make buildings up to 4 degrees cooler inside and allow for 10 per cent more working hours within a comfortable temperature range.
What the Frack?
January 20th, 2012
The recent press about the potential of shale gas would have you believe that America is now sitting on a 100-year supply of natural gas. It's a "game-changer." A "golden age of gas" awaits, one in which the United States will be energy independent, even exporting gas to the rest of the world.
Back from the future as energy experiment ends
January 19th, 2012
AFTER an 18-month experiment in a futuristic house packed with high-tech gadgets and its own powerplant, a Sydney family is looking forward to moving into a century-old weatherboard cottage in the Blue Mountains.
UN chief calls for stepped up action by governments, private sector to boost clean energy
January 18th, 2012
Governments and the private sector must ramp up their investments into sustainable energy as part of a larger effort to alleviate poverty around the world and combat climate change, the U.N. chief told an energy conference Monday.
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