Energy is a commodity that most Australians take for granted. As long as we can have access to lighting and energy for our appliances, we tend not to think about anything else. The end result is that we can listen to music on our iPhones or use our laptop to do the tasks that’s important to ourselves over the next few hours. We don’t really care how we get the energy, as long as we have enough energy to power up the appliances that we rely on and that it is cheap.
People benefit from this approach for now. What cannot be ignored is how they get the energy and how it will impact the quality of life for Australians in the years to come. The 2015 report from the Australian Energy Regulator (AER) shows the majority of energy that is generated is a result of burning fossil fuels.
Look at Beijing to see what the future could look like.
China is known to be one of the world’s top contributors to air pollution and its citizens are suffering. The recent G20 summit saw China ratify its commitment to the Paris Agreement and they will start cutting back on carbon emissions by closing many of its coal-fired power plants and instead build renewable energy suppliers such as wind farms. China has already started to take action and carbon emissions are down 3% compared to 2015, however the country still has over 150 coal-fired power plants across the country.
Map of coal power plants across China.
Not only is the smog from the pollution affecting China, but it is also affecting neighbouring countries like South Korea and Japan, which contributes to the strained relations already faced by those countries.
It’s even got to the point where Australian companies are selling ‘fresh Australian air’ back to China. Fresh air that’s a healthy alternative to the heavy smog that residents face in Beijing shows what the future could be like if Australians fail to take action now. China is taking action, however it might be too little too late. Australia still has a chance to educate its citizens so they will avoid the grim environmental conditions that Beijing residents have to face.
What can people do to make a change?
Australian consumers are the ones that have the power to make a change. This is because power plants will be given permission to produce more energy through their current output methods or they will be granted permission to build other power plants that will meet consumers demands.
The easiest way to curb the demand of energy is by implementing energy-efficient technology. There have been vast improvements in technology that allow people to consume less energy. Advancements in LED lighting allows consumers to maintain the same consumption habit, however the technology requires less than 50% of the energy that traditional incandescent light bulbs would need to produce light. Governments in New South Wales and Victoria have rolled out commercial LED lighting schemes so the business and industrial sector can take advantage of this technology to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions caused by those power plants that require fossil fuels to create energy. Additionally, energy-efficient equipment from printers to refrigeration, computers and more.
Another major aspect that Australians should consider is the green building design. Many buildings that were built in the past never considered energy consumption factors. Nowadays, architects and builders are finding more ways to leverage natural light, heat retention and airflow to curb people’s need rely on artificial lighting, heating, or cooling.
The trump card for cultural change is in the hand of Australian consumers. Ideally, the country will gain more renewable energy sources, however it is likely to be a few decades before there’s enough to supply the majority of the nation. However, by choosing to implement technology that will reduce energy consumption habits, Australians will passively minimise their contribution to climate change. Explore the options that are available to you and see how you can make a difference today!
