March 2023 - results
Saving emissions: Reduce energy use

Mar Goal: Reduce emissions by 0.5t of CO2e this calendar year

How: Installing solar panels, changing the time of day we use electricity (to max the solar panel use), and looking for energy efficiency habits.

Verdict: Outperforming! On track to save over about 1tCO2e, almost completely from solar panel use.

March Monthly

Tackling energy use - our March theme

Less

Finding new ways to use less electricity from the Grid.

On track for 1tCO2e saved!

Better

More energy efficient use of appliances.

Eco-setting anyone?

Different

Generating my own power and load-shifting to match.

Yay for solar panels!

March & April results - how did we go?

Goal #1 - Using less

Recap: residential electricity use in buildings accounts for about 10% of total global greenhouse gas emissions.

I've definitely been way more conscious of turning lights off (small impact I know, but an easy one to do). After the kids and I were mucking around with looking at how much electricity things drew, and realised every light on in our bedrooms, bathroom and stair well added up to 0.7kW, I got a little bit more focused on this!!

I also improved at turning off standby power - switching off the kettle / toaster / coffee machine / charger power board in the kitchen after I've used it. It's at bench height so its super easy to do once you form the habit. I even turn the family room switches (tv and fetch box) off downstairs if I remember - not at bench height, so it's easier to forget. The other one to remember my study, where the laptop and computer monitor are. After the first time of freaking out that my monitor had broken because it wasn't turning on, I seemed to have gotten accustomed to switching off and switching on when I work at my study desk.

If I ever get a fancier house or build I would go in for that smart wiring hoo-ha and figure out a better way to manage standby power.

Progress #1 - Using less

We are using less, but its hard to put that all down to turning off the lights and bits and pieces - it was actually a much, much milder summer this year. So, even if we look at electricity consumption (ignoring what was generated by the PV), I have some estimates (see progress #2) but not a full picture for how much of the 30% reduction compared to last year is from our behaviours, or just the milder weather, given the impact of the aircon. You can see the difference cooling makes in the graph of our 'from the grid only' consumption chart, i.e. when power hungry appliances are on after dark or in cloud cover. As the weather gets towards Autumn, the number of days where we are racking up electricity in the evening lessons off and the average usage drops considerably.

Progress #2 - no new buys but better use

It was good to know my washing machine and dishwasher are pretty efficient, and I don't own a clothes dryer which are huge energy suckers on the appliances list. I've been diligent at washing in cold water and using the ecosetting on the dishwasher (and only washing it when its full up), so these changes are on track to contribute to lowering my overall energy bill. The eco setting on the dishwasher versus the max setting is around 0.6kWh versus 1.45kWh a wash - so over the course of a year that can really add up.

This also prompted me to look into my hot water system. It's alive and well for now, but it is gas-fired. When it gets closer to end of life, I would check the rebates and small-scale technology certificates available at the time and look at heat pump or solar hot water systems.

Math time:

Eco setting @0.6kWh runs for 2h30mins a cycle; if run 3 x times a week for a year, electricity consumption =234kWh p.a.

Max setting @1.45kWh runs for 2h20mins a cycle; if run 3 x times a week for a year, electricity consumption = 528kWh p.a.

Verdict: Could save 293kWh over a year - more than a month's worth of electricity!

Goal #2 - Better use of energy

Recap: The same appliance, but from a different brand or model, can have a vastly different electricity consumption and hence carbon footprint.

The efficiency of an appliance is rated under the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012 – Australia's national appliance and equipment energy efficiency legislation - and captured in the Energy Rating Label.

Aircon's, ovens, dishwashers and fridges - are some of the big guns when it comes to energy use.

An energy efficient versus an inefficient oven could vary by as much as 2.5 times the carbon footprint (I looked at two models on the market at 9.3t CO2e compared to my efficient 3.7t CO2e over a 15-year lifetime). Not only do you save on the carbon footprint, but the inefficient device could also cost thousands of dollars more in electricity bills over its life! Worth paying extra for a more efficient appliance🤔?

Goal #3 - Different

Recap: With energy (electricity & gas) consumption making up 65% of the average Australian household's carbon footprint, changing to a renewable energy or a lower carbon source of energy is going to make a much bigger difference than reducing energy consumption alone.

We've only had our solar panels in since last December, but with the four or so month's worth of data, I can see they are drastically reducing my electricity footprint (40 to 60% depending on the month).

Progress #3 - Solar panel savings

Over Jan to April, we used 431kWh from our own panels, and another 434kWh from the Grid. But we were able to generate and send a further whopping 3,316kWh to the Grid from energy we didn't use. This bodes well for battery use in our future (my inverter installation is battery enabled). I'm just waiting for the subsidies to assist with the cost of my transition.

And that is a key message here - I'm willing to make some financial sacrifices in the short-term, like purchasing solar panels - as I know they will end up paying for themselves over time.

I'm willing to pay a little extra for no or low-packaged and sustainable items, where they represent a small proportion of my overall household spending, because I feel I am getting 'better', fresher and cheaper seasonable produce at the markets, to offset some of the increased expense in other household sundries (like dry goods from source foods or sustainable cleaning products from Tirtyl).

BUT like the average household, I'm not yet prepared to fork out for big household expenses without some financial incentive (like a rebate or subsidy) as much as I want to and know it's the right thing to do - for example, replacing my hot water system ahead of its end of life, or buying battery storage.

The Government has a range of legislation, budgetary commitments and programs that are being used to help drive the changes in behaviour - for business and individuals - to get us all on track for our national netzero targets. Governments can generally drive change in two ways -

the carrot (incentives and rebates, or even tax cuts) and the stick (penalties and taxes, regulatory mandates for minimum standards of performance or output). Their response may be driven by what the economists deem to be successful and also how much spare cash they have on hand.

Just some of the examples the Australian Government are using to drive us on the right path for reducing our national carbon footprint (which includes household actions!) includes -

Re-wiring the Nation budget commitments to drive large-scale renewable power into the network and the supporting electricity infrastructure to transport that renewable power as a key component of the energy transition.
Handing out small-scale technology certificates to encourage people to buy solar panels, batteries and similar, and offering rebates for some of these products or via your electricity bill. For example, with Synergy (my electricity retailer) I receive distributed energy buyback credits for all my solar generation that goes back to the grid.
The Equipment Energy Efficiency (E3) Program increasing energy efficiency ratings and standards (such as the star labels) supporting consumers to make better choices but also sending a message to appliance manufacturers to improve products.
Budget for the Driving the Nation Fund and the Electric Car Discount Bill will hopefully increase availability and affordability of EV's in Australia, although fuel efficiency standards have been proven globally to result in faster traction towards electrification of transport goals.
The National Waste Policy is aimed at reducing Australia's waste, but households can also play a part with composting just one way to make a big personal difference.

March 2023 - results Saving emissions: Reduce energy use