The rollout of smart meters to Victorian homes and businesses has begun, and is due to reach the City of Port Phillip very soon. What is a smart meter, and are smart meters an environmental initiaive?
Electricity and gas are used to power, heat and cool our homes, workplaces, and public spaces. Consumption of energy from these two sources accounts for about 80-85% of greenhouse gas emissions from the average Australian home. Furthermore, the average Australian currently uses around 35% more energy at home than the average European, simply because of the inefficient way we build and power our homes.
Energy-efficiency opportunities in the home and the workplace abound, and offer both environmental and financial benefits. By using less energy we can save money and reduce our carbon footprint. There are also increasing options for alternative and renewable sources of energy to further reduce the environmental impact of our energy consumption. These are as various direct installation of solar hot water or electricity systems to the purchase of accredited Green Power from renewable sources like wind farms. Becoming energy-smart is one of the most cost-effective and significant ways to reduce your total carbon footprint and tackle climate change.
This section provides information, practical solutions and case studies about all aspects of becoming energy-smart. You can also calculate your energy use and find actions to take today to save energy!