Modelling greenhouse gas emissions for Australian residential building construction

International pressure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions has forced many countries to look beyond 'demand side' measures. Several industry sectors are examining indirect requirements for energy and other resources that involve significant greenhouse gas emissions. The operation of buildings is responsible for approximately one quarter of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia. Moreover, he construction process consumes vast quantities of raw materials and complex goods and services each year. Each of the processes required for the provision of these products requires energy, and most of this is fossil fuel based. A national model of greenhouse gas emissions is required for residential building construction, to indicate where emissions reduction strategies should focus. A disaggregated input-output model is developed for the Australian residential building construction sector, and recommendations are made about how this model can be used in the development of policies of emissions mitigation for both the sector and individual residential buildings.

Insights into the biodiversity and social benchmarking components of the Northern Australian fire management and carbon abatement programmes

Much of northern Australia’s tropical savannas are subject to annual intense and extensive late dry season wildfires, much of this occurring on Aboriginal land. Based on the successful West Arnhem Land Fire Abatement (WALFA) model, which has resulted in significantly reduced greenhouse gas emissions, fire abatement programmes are planned for other significant regions of northern Australia. This study offers an introduction to the ideas behind a proposed environmental and social benchmarking project that aims to evaluate the potential benefits of expanding the fire abatement program in northern Australia, under the leadership of NAILSMA and its partners. Gaining a better understanding of the biodiversity, social and cultural outcomes of these fire abatement activities is an important component of demonstrating multiple benefits of these programmes. We emphasize the role of both biodiversity and cultural mapping to establish benchmarks and baseline states, with the involvement of Indigenous communities being a key element to optimize social and biodiversity benefits. Consultation with Traditional Owners and ranger groups to establish an agreed set of targets, indicators and sampling protocols and methodologies are critical component of this process. Examples of preliminary work to date are provided.

An investigation for improved home energy management

 Increasing household energy consumption and increasing primary energy cost urged to improve home energy efficiency. Improved energy management can suggest the ways to improve home energy efficiency. Various home appliances are the prime cause to the increased power demand. Appliance's energy rating information helps to develop awareness and reduce energy consumption. Load shifting can help to reduce overall cost of used energy bill by shifting peak time load to off-peak time. However most of the present appliances remains in standby mode (active or passive) for a significant part of the day, and load shifting cannot reduce the total energy consumption. Therefore investigation is required to identify any possible scopes to improve energy management at home. This paper investigated several home appliances and monitored daily time of use power consumption. It was found that by controlling standby power from a daily home load of 4.482 kWh, power demand can be reduced 12.56% moreover energy related greenhouse gas (GHG) emission can be reduced 133.08kg/year.