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GHG-Energy Calc

Background Paper

Ben J. RoseMarch 2009

Section ContentsPage1.0INTRODUCTION21.1 Australian domestic greenhouse gas emissions31.2Greenhouse gases (GHG) and global warming potential (GWP)62.0GHG – ENERGY- CALC72.1Using

GHG-Energy Calc

82.2How

GHG-Energy Calc

works92.3Home Heating Calculator113.0EMBODIED ENERGY AND EMISSIONS FACTORS123.1Definitions and boundaries123.2Estimation of embodied emission factors for manufactured goods, food andresidential buildings134.0TRANSPORT ENERGY AND EMISSIONS 165.0ENERGY AND EMISSIONS OF TRANSPORT MODES175.1Aircraft175.2Ocean liners205.3Private vehicles21Bicycle225.4Motor vehicle efficiency235.5Public transport – bus and train246.0ELECTRICITY AND HOME HEATING FUELS ENERGY AND EMISSIONS 276.1Electricity (Australian grid systems)276.2Electricity – ‘green power’ renewable (biomass/hydro/wind power)286.3Heating fuels used in the home297.0FOOD AND WATER EMBODIED ENERGY AND EMISSIONS 317.1Foods- emission classes317.2Using the Food section of

GHG-Energy Calc

327.3Water328.0WASTE EMBODIED ENERGY AND EMISSIONS348.1

GHG-Energy Calc

waste section348.2Inaccuracies348.3Embodied energy emissions of municipal solid waste348.4Methane generation from landfill358.5Emission savings from recycling 369.0HOUSING AND POSSESSIONS EMBODIED ENERGY AND EMISSIONS379.1Housing379.2Possessions3810FURTHER RESEARCH AND CONCLUSIONS41REFERENCES43Appendix 1 Conversions45Appendix 2Definitions45Appendix 3Emission factors for fuels49Appendix 4Air travel emissions understated49Appendix 5

Per Passenger Emissions from Cruise Ships

51Appendix 6

Estimated embodied energy and emissions of goods in a typical home

Rose, B.J., 2009.

GHG-Energy-Calc Background Paper

1. INTRODUCTION

Global warming is now almost universally accepted as being the greatest environmental crisis toaffect mankind. The results are already being felt: global warming and a climate change with moreextremes - droughts, floods and intense storms that are predicted to become much worse as CO

levels increase at an unprecedented rate. Reducing the rate of greenhouse gas emssions will be anenormous battle that must be fought on many fronts. However it is winnable because it is a phenomenon caused directly by human activities and there are many ways we can change to becomemore energy efficient and less polluting. It is mainly the excessive consumption habits of ‘westernized’ developed nations that are producing more greenhouse gases than can be assimilated by natural cycles. The burning of huge amounts of fossils fuels for transport, industry and domesticelectricity; unsustainable agricultural practices and clearing of forests are all common practices thatmust cease or be curtailed if the world is to avert climate catastrophe.This paper describes a greenhouse gas emissions and energy calculator (GHG-Energy Calc) for use by individuals and businesses to conduct their own energy and emissions audits easily and quickly. Itis available for the public to use and can be downloaded from www.ghgenergycalc.com.au .Other energy-related calculators, information booklets and brochures can also be found on the website.These resources are intended to help the community to minimize greenhouse gas emitting activitiesand consumption by being more energy efficient and changing to ‘cleaner technology’ energysources and products.Australians have a lot of reducing to do from their current level of 28 tonnes GHG per head of to thesustainable level of 2 tonnes (from IPCC, 2001). However, it can be achieved – the averageAustralian can easily reduce emissions by half to 6-7 tonnes by simply leading a more energyefficient lifestyle (see Section 2). If industry and commerce were to do likewise, that would beanother 7 tonnes per head. Going the rest of the way will require changing to renewable energytechnologies and less emissions intensive industrial and agricultural practices. Surely this will nomore technically difficult than putting a man on the moon or producing ‘nano-machines’. However itwill require profound societal and cultural changes.Our current consumer culture will only change when a ‘critical mass’ of the population becomesaware and concerned enough to change consumer habits and drive political change. An examplefamiliar to all is cigarette smoking. It was considered quite normal and harmless in the 1940’s but isnow recognized by the community as a health hazard and a cost to the taxpayer through increased burdens on the health care system. Smoking is now banned in public areas, is heavily taxed and our youth are educated about its dangers. In the same way, if the community become concerned enoughabout the damage that excessive fossil fuel consumption is doing to the climate on which it depends,many will change their consumption habits. For example, driver-only commuting in large petroleum powered vehicles, exceeding the per capita sustainable emissions by over 100% from this sourcealone, may in future be seen for what it is − ‘smoking in a public place’. Such behaviours will beviewed by an increasingly, aware community as unacceptable behaviour. Eventually there will be achange to a government that will legislate for the necessary regulatory controls. Whether this willhappen soon enough to avert climate catastrophe will depend on how quickly the community become aware and concerned enough to accept some economic pain and lifestyle change.In 2005, the European emissions trading scheme commenced. In 2006, the Kyoto Protocol cameinto effect, with Russia joining. At the same time, rising oil prices due to the impending ‘oil peak’ provided financial incentives for alternative fuels. The first steps towards ‘climate action’ on a worldscale have begun. Climate change and its causes have at last become major issues in the Australianmedia, with regular and continuing press coverage. The release in August 2006 of the film ‘AnRose, B.J., 2009.

GHG-Energy-Calc Background Paper