Australian Residential Building Sector Greenhouse Gas Emissions 1990-2010
The study was produced for the Australian Greenhouse Office by Lloyd Harrington and Robert Foster of Energy Efficient Strategies with assistance from Energy Partners George Wilkenfeld & Associates and additional contributions from Graham Treloar, Deakin University Mark Ellis & Associates, 1999
Download PDF
- Download the Executive Summary Report 1999
(exec_summ.pdf - 438 KB) - Download the Final Report 1999
(final_report.pdf - 438 KB)
Overview
This study estimates energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions in the residential sector over the period 1990 to 2010, with the primary aim of providing a basis for the determination of an equitable contribution by the building sector to greenhouse gas emission reductions. The study looks closely at all end uses (including electrical appliances and equipment, water heating and cooking) but there is particular attention given to space heating and cooling in residential buildings: the interaction of the thermal performance of the building shell, heating and cooling regimes and the type, fuel mix and energy efficiency of space heating and cooling equipment.
Space heating and cooling accounted for 39 per cent of total residential operational energy consumption in 1998. The three main energy sources used in the residential sector are electricity, natural gas and wood. While only a small part of residential electricity consumption is used for space heating and cooling, the vast majority of natural gas and wood consumption in Australia is used for space heating. Because such a large share of the energy is from the less greenhouse gas-intensive energy sources, space heating and cooling account for a lower share of greenhouse gas emissions than of energy use. Even so, heating and cooling account for nearly 15 per cent of residential sector greenhouse gas emissions. Building shell thermal performance has a large impact on the heating and cooling requirements for residential buildings, so improvements in thermal performance are likely to lead to reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
In his statement of 20 November 1997, "Safeguarding the Future: Australia's Response to Climate Change", the Prime Minister announced a package of measures to reduce Australia's greenhouse gas emissions. He noted that this package of measures was designed both to ensure that Australia plays its part in the global effort required to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and to protect Australian jobs and industry. As a result, the Government is seeking "realistic, cost-effective reductions in key sectors where emissions are high or growing strongly, while also fairly spreading the burden of action across the economy". The Prime Minister also noted that "[The Government is] prepared to ask industry to do more than they may otherwise be prepared to do, that is, to go beyond a 'no regrets', minimum cost approach where this is sensible in order to achieve effective and meaningful outcomes".
Subsequent negotiations resulted in an international agreement to the Kyoto Protocol to the Framework Convention on Climate Change, under which Australia will have an obligation, inter alia, to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 108 per cent of the 1990 level by 2008- 2012. This compares with a business-as-usual scenario prior to the Prime Minister's Statement of 28 per cent emissions growth for the economy as a whole, and around 40 per cent for energy-related emissions, based on projections available at that time.
For the building sector, the Prime Minister's Statement specified:
"The Commonwealth will work with the States, Territories and key industry stakeholders to develop voluntary minimum energy performance standards for new and substantially refurbished commercial buildings on the basis of energy efficiency benchmarks. If after 12 months, the Government assesses that the voluntary approach is not achieving acceptable progress towards higher standards of energy efficiency for housing and commercial buildings, we will work with the States and industry to implement mandatory standards through amendment of the Building Code of Australia."
This project has been commissioned by the Australian Greenhouse Office (in consultation with the building industry) to determine baseline greenhouse gas emissions attributable to the residential building sector of the economy and to provide a firm, quantitative basis for the subsequent development of specific greenhouse response measures by industry and government.
This study has found that about 15 per cent of the greenhouse gas emissions attributable to the residential sector in 1998 come about as a result of householders' need to heat and cool dwellings. The amount of energy used for this purpose over the life of a dwelling depends largely on its design and materials, and other factors determined at the time of construction. Therefore the housing industry has a key role to play in influencing future demand for residential sector heating and cooling, and on the related greenhouse gas emissions. Its influence also extends to other fixed systems and appliances installed at the time of construction, most notably water heating, and to a lesser extent some fixed space heating appliances and cooking appliances, as well as the fuel choice for these end uses.
It is estimated that water heaters were responsible for 28 per cent of residential greenhouse gas emissions in 1998. This study has found that 52 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions attributable to the residential sector come about as a result of electrical appliances selected by residents or persons outside the building sector, and therefore cannot be directly affected by changes made within the building industry. The remaining 5 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions result from cooking.
By quantifying the impacts of a range of building sector influenced possibilities, this study provides a basis for establishing the contribution that the residential building industry can make to the national objective of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, in line with Australia's obligations.
< Back
Before you download
Most publications are available as PDF files. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to view PDF files.
If you are unable to access a publication, please contact us to organise a suitable alternative format.
Key
Links to another web site
Opens a pop-up window