Environment and Sustainability

Greenhouse gas emissions, such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide act as a blanket around the earth that traps the sun's heat inside out atmosphere. As the world has become more industrialises, humans have produced more of these emissions, giving rise to concerns about the effect on the environment.

The largest quantity of greenhouse gas emissions comes from energy generation and use, accounting for around 70 per cent of Victoria's greenhouse gas emissions.

There is continued debate about just what the effects of increased greenhouse emissions will be. None-the-less, it id prudent for the community to adopt more sustainable practices in our homes, workplaces and in the way we design and construct our modern world. A sustainable society makes better use of the finite natural resources and reduces the risks of creating imbalance in natural systems.

Using less energy in the simplest way of reducing greenhouse emissions. This can be done in simple ways in the home and workplace and on a larger scale by designers and manufacturers producing more energy efficient products and systems.

Benefits of reducing energy use at home and in the workplace include:

Cheaper energy bills*
Less greenhouse gas emissions
Better use of our natural resources

*Your Choice is a Victorian government website that helps you to compare energy supply costs across Victoria.

There are also a number of commercial websites that compare multiple offers. Generally, if you enter a market contract using one of these websites, the website operator will receive a commission from the retailer you sign with. City of Ballarat doesn't endorse these websites - and the site may not have all energy retailers' offers on it, so you may not get a full comparison of offers - however, you may like to look at these examples or do a web search for others:

Choice
Go Switch
Energy Watch - Also referred to as ConnectMyPower
Rate Detective
Shop Around
Switch Select
Switch Wise

Light Globe Black Balloon

Measuring your energy use and emissions

You know when we are using more energy because your costs go up so the simplest way to measure your energy use is to look at the details on your power accounts.

There are a range of websites offering tools to evaluate in more detail the amount of energy you use and Greenhouse gas toy generate at home.

There are also a number of organisations offering tailored evaluation services to businesses who wish to invest in a comprehensive energy audit.

A good starting point can be found at the NABERS website, which offers a free performance-based rating system for existing buildings and provides a simple indication of how your building rates compared with similar buildings.

The website provides rating tools for households, offices, retail outlets and hotels and follows up with tips for improving performance.

How to save energy and reduce emissions at home

Australian households spend around $1500 a year on energy and water bills, and out energy and water use is among the highest in the world. The general distribution of energy in the home is shown here:

Pie Chart

The following practices and installations will help improve the energy efficiency of your home:

Reduce Hot Water Use

In the shower - the largest user of household hot water, install an efficient shower head - 3 star or better - and save up to $100 a year on your water and energy bills.
Shower timers - consider taking shorter showers. Shower timers make it easy to keep track.
Run-off bucket. Use a bucket in the shower to capture runoff which can be used to water plants.
Undetected leaks can be extremely wasteful and costly. A way to check for leaks is to read the water meter late at night then again early the next morning to see if water was leaking while everyone was asleep.
Choose water and energy efficient appliances, for example, a front loading washing machine uses less water. More information on energy efficiency rating can be found on the Australian Government Energy Rating website.

Many other ways to reduce hot water use and make your hot water system more efficient and reduce hot water costs can be found at NABERS home efficiency rating website.

Make heating and cooling more efficient

Insulation - half the heat entering or escaping your home comes through ceilings and walls.
Windows - external blinds and window coverings are more effective at keeping heat out than internal curtains or blinds.
The use of pelmets with curtains and double glazed windows held to stabilise the inside temperature.
Seal your home - up to 15% of heat entering or escaping a home comes through gaps and cracks. Use draught excluders to seal external gaps.
Use fans to generate cool air or distribute heat. They are economical to run.
Put refrigerators in cool places and only open briefly and when required.
Place air conditioners away from direct sunlight. Cool living areas or bedrooms to no less than 24 degrees Celsius.
Landscaping - careful choice and placement of trees, shrubs and vines will protect windows and walls from heat, maximise the effects of cool changes and let in light and heat in winter.

Many other ways to make heating and cooling your home more efficient and reduce costs can be found at NABERS home efficiency website.

Click here to view information on home heating options.

Washing Machine Powerpoint

How to save energy and reduce emissions in your business

The options for reducing energy in your business will depend on the type of business you operate. Some general tips are:

Turn off all lights and equipment when they do not need to be operating.
Use energy efficient office equipment and power saving functions where they will be most effective.
Use the most efficient motors, make sure equipment is the right size for the job, that is, not too big.
Use the most efficient lights - triphosphor tubes are cheaper to run than fluorescent lights.
Replace incandescent globes with fluorescent tubes to save power as well as reduce air conditioning loads (they're cooler) ans reduce labour needed to change globes (they last longer).
Install skylights in the roof or walls to reduce the need for artificial lighting.
Minimise expenditure on space heating. At 20°C, a 1°C increase can cost about 20 per cent more.
Insulate rooms to minimise energy waste.
Fit self closing doors to reduce heat (or cold) loss from draughts.
consider installing a co-generation plant to reduce energy costs and increase energy efficiency.
Minimise the use of hot water as it costs much more than cold water.
Improve insulation of all hot process items and steam lines to minimise simple heat loss.
Remove frost on refrigerated coolant lines through better insulation. This will keep ice where you need it and where it can add value to your business.
Find ways to transfer heat from hot process streams into cold streams.
Require suppliers to quote the energy consumption and costs of a new piece of equipment.
Investigate alternative energy sources such as solar hot water, waste, bio-ethanol and wind energy.
Consider using fuel efficient vehicles in your business operations, for example, 4 cylinder, diesel or hybrid vehicles (see the Green Vehicle Guide for vehicle efficiency comparisons).
Use a clean fuel such as LPG or methanol, use fuels with the least greenhouse impact.

Industry specific sustainability resources can be found on Swinbourne University's Resource Bank, a comprehensive list of resources which deal with all aspects of sustainability for a range of industries.

Solar Panels Shower Head

Emissions Trading

In an effort to reduce greenhouse emissions, the current Australian Government is considering an Emissions Trading Scheme (EMS) which will put a cost on the production of greenhouse emissions and provide a market for initiatives that remove carbon from the atmosphere. The exact nature of Australia's EMS is still subject to debate and not ensured due to federal elections in August 2011.

An EMS will directly impact on industries that produce large amounts of emissions in their operations, but will indirectly impact on everyone due to everyday cost increases that will cover the price of emissions permits that energy, extraction, manufacturing and transport industries will be required to purchase.

Click here for Sustainability Victoria's summary of the current proposed EMS for Australia.

Click here for Australian Government programs and support offered to businesses to adapt to the proposed EMS.

Wind Turbines

Sustainable transport

Sustainable transport refers to any mode of transport which results in fewer emissions than those generated by the use of vehicles, particularly single occupancy vehicles. It includes; walking, cycling (sometimes referred to as "active transport", use of public transport and car sharing.

The 2006 Census results showed that the great majority of Ballarat trips to work comprised travel in a vehicle:

76% car, truck or motorbike
4% on foot
1% on a bicycle
2% on public transport
19% other (includes working from home, not working)

There are many benefits of reducing car use;

Reduced carbon emissions
Cost savings
Increased social connectiveness
Increased daily exercise and resulting benefits such as:
Weight loss
Improved physical health
Improved mental health and stress relief

As a regional city, Ballarat has the benefit of having most services within a relatively short distance from most households, all the more reason for residents to leave the car at home.

Ballarat also has a very good network of shared cycling and walking tracks which allows the active traveller to enjoy park-like surrounds on the way to their destination.

There is also increasing evidence that the trend away from allowing children to walk to school has detrimental effects on the development of independence and resilience in children. Click here for more information on the subject.

Trail Highlights

Click here to view the booklet "Ballarat's Scenic Bike Rides".

Click hereto view the booklet "Ballarat's Heritage Trails"+

Ballarat TravelSmart Map (commuter map) - the TravelSmart map clearly show all the public transport, walking and cycling paths and bike routes around Ballarat an other relevant information.

Bike Lane Sign

Hard copies of the maps and booklets are availabke from the City of Ballarat Customer Service. The Phoenix Building, 25 Armstrong St PH. (03) 5320 5500.

Bike

How Council is saving energy and reducing emissions

The City of Ballarat Environmental Sustainability Strategy and LiveSmart Policy 2007 has been adopted by Council and commits the Council to making its own operations more sustainable which includes aiming for:

20% reduction on 2000 levvels of greenhouse gas emissions by 2010.
Zero net emissions by 2020.
reduce water consumption by 40% based on 1999/2000 levels.

Council has also signed up to the international program Cities for Climate Protections (CCP) which required Council to report on greenhouse emission reduction by the City.

Some of these initiatives include:

Participation in the solar cities project. This is a federal government initiative that offers incentives to local residents and businesses to participate in a trial range of energy efficiency, local energy generation and demand management products and services.

Solar Panels 2

Ballarat Eco Living Centreis a shop front that will provide information and links for residents on making their lifestyle more sustainable. It will be located in a retro-fitted shop front at the entrance to the historical Mining exchange building. Network outlets will also be located at Royal Park Buninyong, Delacombe Neighbourhood Renewal and Wendouree Community Park.

EcoLiving Centre

Ninety nine per cent of Council's trucks and plant machinery now use a 20% blend biodiesel fuel and many of the vehicle fleet have been changed from 6 cylinder to 4 cylinder cars with 6 vehicles using dedicated LPG.

BioDiesel BioDiesel 2

Energy audits have been undertaken at the Fine Art Gallery, Town Hall, Eureka Centre, Wendouree Works Depot, Girrabanya Childcare Centre, Her Majesty's Theatre, Victorian Business Centre, the Aquatic Centre and Wendouree Children's Centre.
As a result of the audits, more efficient lighting measures have been undertaken in all of those sites and other energy savings initiatives advised by the audit reports have been undertaken or are planned.
Extensions to the Wendouree Works Depot offices have been designed according to passive solar principles.
Roundabouts are being progressively mulched so that moving is not necessary.
Methane gas capture and flaring is undertaken at the Smythesdale landfill.
Waste reduction systems have been put into place in all offices requiring staff to reduce paper use ad separate waste for recycling.

City of Ballarat's Greenhouse Action Plan

City of Ballarat's Bicycle Strategy

Ballarat Bicycle Users Group (BUG)- Cycling networks, information and promotion in Ballarat.

Ballarat Bushwalking and Outdoor Club- recreational walking and cycling in and around Ballarat.

Breaze - Local climate action group

Cities for Climate Protection- International program for local government in which the City of Ballarat is a participant.

Your Home - Practical consumer and technical information for the design, construction or renovation of environmentally sustainable homes.

Central Victoria Solar Cities- Information about the federal government solar project in which the City of Ballarat is a participant.

Nothing but Fear Itself(2010) - A VicHealth Study on the impacts of parental fear on restricting child physical activity and independent mobility.

How Times Have Changed (2009) - An active transport literature review.

Energy Watch - Website that compares power costs in your area.

Some of the information on the following Federal Government websites may be out of date at July 2010 due to recent changes in programs. Some of the information on both the Federal and Victorian Government websites may be subject to change following upcoming elections (at July 2010).

List of rebates on energy and water efficient products

Australian Department of Climate Change and Energy

Victoria's Climate Change website