Australian Democrats
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How YOU can be more Energy Efficient
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Today the world uses a great deal of energy to generate electricity, for transportation, and manufacturing and use is increasing dramatically in both developed and developing countries. Most of our energy comes from coal and oil - fossil fuels that are finite and major contributors to climate change.
Sustainable energy use means finding a mix of energy sources and energy efficiency that is in balance with nature into the foreseeable future. Getting back to that balance and avoiding catastrophic climate change means taking urgent action to reverse the massive concentrations of greenhouse gases already in the atmosphere from burning coal and oil. Using energy wisely and efficiently, embracing renewable energy from the many so far untapped sources available and using cleaner non-renewable sources and technologies will be important elements of achieving that balance.
This is the vision – it now needs to be turned into a plan, based on sound scientific advice and research and Australia must play a role, along with other big greenhouse emitters.
Nuclear power is not a sustainable energy source because it is greenhouse intensive to produce nuclear fuel, it is costly, dangerous, and produces toxic waste that is so long-lived that taking care of it cannot be costed.
In July 2006 the Prime Minister announced plans for Australia to become an energy superpower, exporting coal, uranium and oil. The Government’s plans, which may make a buck in the short-term for the powerful fossil fuel industries, fly in the face of any notion of a sustainable energy policy; and will have economic, social and environmental costs in the long-term.
The Democrats say a better way to arrive at a sustainable energy plan is to appoint an independent Sustainable Energy Commissioner to conduct this work, charged with the objective of progressively cutting Australia’s greenhouse emissions to 60% by 2050.
At present we have 6 departments and a variety of agencies and bodies responsible for energy policy and research, all advocating for different things. The departmental independence of the Australian Greenhouse Office should now be restored to the agency with principal responsibility for this objective and would work closely with the Commissioner and other departments and agencies to ensure its recommendations are implemented in a holistic way.
Energy Efficiency
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Energy efficiency is easily the most cost-effective ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and energy costs. Water heating, space heating and cooling, lighting, cooking, and transport can all be far less energy intensive.
Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) are needed for appliances, regulations required to drive passive energy efficient technology in building design, active energy control devices, innovative air conditioning systems, energy-efficient electric machines and drives such as hybrid cars, optimised building management systems and the use of insulation, shading and thermal mass. State and Federal Governments are doing some good work in this area, but much more can be done.
Energy Efficiency is also about using less energy by changing the way people and goods are transported. State and federal Governments have done poorly in this area. Go to Oil and Transport for more information.
Renewable Energy
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Renewable energy sources are diverse and numerous including solar, wind, hydro, wave, ocean, tide, geothermal-aquifer, hot dry rocks, and numerous forms of bioenergy.
Renewable energy currently provides 17% of global energy needs and is the fastest growing of all the energy industries today.
Renewable energy now accounts for a quarter of the installed capacity of California, a third of Sweden's energy, half of Norway's and three-quarters of Iceland's.
According to the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, renewable energy could meet most of the worlds energy demand by 2100. Click here for information on Renewable Energy and Democrat policy. |
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| Senator Lyn Allison inspects a newly installed wind turbine | |
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Non-renewable sustainable energy
While renewable energy can eventually supply the world's energy needs in the short-term the Democrats say we need to look at a mix of sustainable solutions that include gas, which, though non-renewable, has much lower greenhouse gas emissions than oil and coal.
Gas-fired electricity generation – electricity power plants fuelled by natural gas and the largely renewable gas generated from landfill. (landfill gas would be at least part renewable – the putrescibles that give off the gas are mostly vegetable matter.)
Cogeneration - Cogeneration is the simultaneous production of electricity and thermal energy (heat) in the one energy conversion process. Thermal energy usually given off in an industrial process, is used to heat water or air for domestic, commercial or industrial use, or ’recycled’ in industrial processes or pre-processing of raw materials.
Cogeneration increases overall energy conversion efficiencies to over 90%, greatly improving the sustainability of fuels, which may include biomass resources. New forms of cogeneration include fuel cells that produce both electrical power and thermal energy.
Gas cars – cars and buses fuelled by LPG and natural gas.
Hybrid powered cars - A hybrid petrol/electric car captures the electricity generated by the car that in other cars is wasted, and stores it in special batteries which in turn are used to power the vehicle. The hybrid’s petrol and electric motors are controlled by a computer. On average a hybrid uses less than half the fuel of a car of equivalent size and features. As an added bonus it runs very quietly and its motors shut down when the car stops temporarily.
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Senator Lyn Allison hops into her much-loved hybrid Toyota Prius |
Democrats Action Agenda
See climate change for action agenda.
Latest News
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Options for moving towards a lower emission future (AGL, Frontier Economics and WWF Australia) have completed a pragmatic economic evaluation of how to achieve emission reductions in the Australian electricity sector. The study showed that a 40% reduction from current emission levels (7% reduction from 1990 levels) can be achieved in the electricity sector by 2030. This result can be achieved with today's electricity generation technology and knowledge about energy efficiency.
wwf.org.au/publications/lower-emission-future/ |
Sign up for Sustainability eBulletin | subscribe Sustainability e-bulletin provides an update on key environment, energy, water, transport and other sustainability related issues. It includes information on the Democrats activities both in Parliament and the community, as well as advocacy ideas. We aim for 4 issues a year.
Democrats PRs
Government in Denial on carbon price signal - Senator Lyn Allison
12 September 2006
Lines to AAP - Windfarm National Code - Senator Lyn Allison
11 September 2006
Petrol peak and price solutions ignored - Senator Lyn Allison
07 September 2006
Sceptical Minister a danger to halting Climate change - Senator Lyn Allison
20 August 2006
Carbon levy only option for carbon capture - Senator Lyn Allison
11 August 2006
Six monthly biofuels report buried - Senator Lyn Allison
09 August 2006
Government fails on alternatives to oil - Senator Lyn Allison
07 August 2006
More Democrats PR on energy
Democrat speeches and reports
Renewable Energy: its role in Australia now and in the future - Senator Lyn Allison
13 Sep 2006
Speech to the Petroleum Retail legislation Bill 2006 - Senator Allison
11 Sep 2006
Petrol Prices and Australian oil Reliance - Senator Lyn Allison
6 Sep 2006
Energy Initiatives - Senator Lyn Allison
14 Aug 2006
Senator Allison FUEL TAX BILL 2006 (second reading) - Senator Lyn Allison
22 Jun 2006
More Democrats speeches on energy
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