Improving Energy Efficiency: Analysis of Household and Possible Alternatives

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Table of Contents
Summary..........................................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................4
Literature Review on status of Energy use and carbon emission in Australia.............................4
Promotion of Energy Efficiency..................................................................................................6
Analysis of Household ................................................................................................................7
Possible Alternatives....................................................................................................................8
Cost benefit Analysis...................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

Summary
It is very important to improve energy efficiency. For a house hold level it plays very small role
but when it is seen on a bigger picture, their part also plays vital role in it. When energy is used
more efficiently, it is one of the most cost effective way to save money and reduce the green
house gases and carbon footprints. Also, it supports in meeting the growing demands of energy.
Most importantly it is beneficial for the environment, also improving efficiency can cut down the
individual utility bills and helps in stabilizing the electricity prices. Government is very
concerned about the environmental changes and for minimizing and mitigating the hazardous
changes they have applied some policies such as Kyoto protocol, Doha amendment and Paris
agreement. There are many organizations that are helping the homeowners to improve the energy
efficiencies in their homes. It is proving to be an effective strategy for government to reduce the
energy demands, help households to save money and improve comfort and reduce carbon
emissions. For improving the energy efficiencies the households takes an inspection of energy
flow in their homes and try to find out about the equipments and other causes that are affecting
the system negatively. In this energy audit the homeowners determine several ways to reduce the
energy consumption per unit of energy output to minimize the prices. By changing lights and
other appliances, by using renewable sources like photovoltaic panels and by using other energy
efficient technologies like fuel cells, homeowners can improve the energy efficiency.

INTRODUCTION
Energy efficiency covers wide range in which it includes energy savings, energy consumption,
energy sufficiency and energy conversion. In simple words, for household it can be described as
using lesser energy to execute the same tasks. A good energy efficiency is important as it
supports in lowering the greenhouse gas emissions and lowering the carbon dioxide emissions
(da Cunha and de Aguiar, 2020). Energy audit is performed to improve the energy efficiency. An
energy audit is an analysis and survey of energy flows within the area, household or a building.
Now a days energy has become a key factor in deciding the cost at all the levels. Energy cost is a
major factor in economic factor in economic activities. The energy audit provides important
informations for overall energy conservation program that mainly covers quality and cost of
various energy inputs also highlights wastages in major areas. This report is mainly focusing on
energy audit of a household, in which it includes their current consumption of energy also the
wastages reduction methods are discussed in the report.
Literature Review on status of Energy use and carbon emission in Australia
Status of Energy consumption and carbon emission in Australia
As per the views of Li and et.al. (2020) Australia is highly dependent on energy and their energy
is low cost by world standards. They are mainly dependent on coal for electricity about 60% of
electricity production is derived from coal. Energy generation from natural gas is increasing.
However Lu and Lai, (2019) contradict this statement this is changing now and after many years
of low investment they are working on building more dispatch-able generating capacity. Energy
consumption is growing at nearly double rate of overall energy use. This growth has been
increasing over the last decade also the prices are rising. In 2017 PV rooftop installations have
reduced the grid supply by 3.1%.
According to Granwal (2021) during the year 2020, the energy consumption derived from oil
was 1.8 exajoules in Australia. And the primary energy consumption from hydro electric plants
was about 0.13 exajoules in the same year.