This section contains information about climate change and energy. Please click on the following highlighted links for more information.

Our Changing Climate
Cities for Climate Protection
Greenhouse Reduction Action In Liverpool (GRAIL)
Energy Savings Action Plan
Energy Conservation
Sustainable Transport
Downloads

Our changing climate 

Greenhouse gases trap the sun’s heat in the atmosphere and assist in the maintenance of the earth’s temperature.  While this greenhouse effect is natural, human activities have increased its intensity considerably, resulting in global warming and climate change impacts.  Human activities such as the burning of fossil fuels for electricity, consumption of petrol based fuels for transport and landfilling waste all contribute to the release of greenhouse gases.   

Since 1950 Australian average temperatures have increased by 0.9°C.  The frequency of hot days and nights has increased and the frequency of cold days and nights has declined.  This warming is likely to be mostly due to increases in greenhouse gases caused by human activity. (CSIRO, Climate Change in Australia: Technical Report, 2007).

Latest scientific projections have also found:

Global climate change, caused by an enhanced greenhouse effect, will significantly affect the natural environment in Australia and NSW. Annual average temperatures in Australia are projected to increase by 0.4-2.0°C by 2030 and by 1-6°C by 2070 compared to 1990 levels. 

(Source: LGSA, 2007, Climate Change Action Pack, www.lgsa-plus.net.au)

Projections suggest that as a result of climate change, there will be more hot days, bushfires, droughts and intense storms. These can all place human life, property and natural ecosystems at increased risk. (Source: CSIRO, 2007, Climate Change in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Catchment, Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (‘CSIRO’) Australia)

Further information regarding Climate Change can be found at the following websites:

• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change http://www.ipcc.ch/
  
• NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change http://www.greenhouse.nsw.gov.au/
  
• Australian Greenhouse Office http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/science/index.html
  

Back to Top

Cities for climate protection

Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) is a program that empowers local councils to develop specific action plans for their own region, engaging the community in the strategy and ensuring that greenhouse reduction actions are both effective and meaningful in the region.

The CCP Program is managed in Australia by the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI), with assistance from the Australian Greenhouse Office (AGO). The program is structured around a Milestone framework as follows:

For more information visit the Cities for Climate Protection Australia website http://www.iclei.org/index.php?id=2291

Back to Top

Greenhouse reduction action in liverpool (GRAIL)

Liverpool City Council joined Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) in 1998.

Through the CCP program Council has made a commitment to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 25% on 1999 levels by 2010 and to assist the community in reducing its greenhouse gas emissions by 20% on 1999 levels by 2010.

As part of its commitment to the CCP program, Council has developed a local action plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.  The Greenhouse Reduction Actions in Liverpool (GRAIL), outlines the actions to be taken in each sector to manage and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Liverpool. It also allocates responsibilities, budgetary impacts and details of the greenhouse emission reductions expected from the action.

Under the GRAIL Council has completed the following actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions:

• Energy efficient retrofits of buildings
• Downsizing of Council’s passenger fleet vehicles from six cylinder to four cylinder
• Purchasing 10% of street lighting electricity from accredited Green Power sources
• Diversion and recycling of domestic paper waste.

Download a copy of the Greenhouse Reduction Action In Liverpool  (GRAIL) here 

Back to Top

 Energy Savings Action Plan

The  Energy Savings Action Plan (ESAP) is a four-year plan that, once fully implemented, has the potential to save 1,306 Megawatt hours (MWh) of energy and 1,286 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) greenhouse gas emissions each year from Council’s activities.  

The ESAP was prepared through a cross-Council working group and was adopted by Council in November 2006.

The ESAP has been written in accordance with guidelines provided by the Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability (DEUS).

Under the ESAP Council has:

• Completed energy audits of its top 10 energy using sites
• Completed energy efficient lighting retrofits
• Implemented building shutdown procedures at major facilities
• Improved monitoring of energy consumption at major facilities

You can download a copy of the ESAP here 

Back to Top

Energy conservation

There are many ways that you can improve your energy efficiency and reduce your greenhouse gas emissions.

All new houses in Liverpool must comply with the Building and Sustainability Index (BASIX) for energy and water efficiency.

If you have an existing home some easy actions you can take to reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions include:

(Source: Australian Greenhouse Office, 2007)

For further information see:

• Global Warming Cool It – Australian Greenhouse Office
  
• Our Environment - It's a Living Thing – NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change 

Water heating accounts for over 30% of total household energy use.  An electric water heater produces the same amount of greenhouse gas emissions as an average family car each year. (NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change, 2007)

Solar hot water heaters can provide 50% to 90% of your hot water at zero operating cost.  By installing a solar water heater or heat pump you can make an enormous difference to the size of your energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions.  (Commonwealth of Australia, 2005).

For information on how to choose the most appropriate hot water system for your household visit:

• Our Environment - It's a Living Thing – NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change
  
• Your Home Technical Manual – Australian Greenhouse Office

A number of rebates are available from the Federal and State Government for the installation of solar hot water systems and heat pumps.

• The NSW Government through the Department of Environment and Climate Change provides rebates for new gas, solar or heat pump hot water systems that replace an electric system.  For further information visit the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change website http://www.dec.nsw.gov.au/rebates/index.htm
  
  
• The Federal Government through the Australian Greenhouse Office provides a rebate for eligible circumstances to install a solar or heat pump hot water system.  For further information visit the Australian Greenhouse Office website http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/solarhotwater/index.html
  
  
• Under the Mandatory Renewable Energy Target, installation of solar and heat pump hot water heaters may be eligible to create Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). While households can create and trade these certificates on their own, registered agents may create and trade RECS on behalf of households. Agents will generally pay the household for the right to create RECs, meaning the cost of the hot water system to the household is reduced. For further information visit the Office of the Renewable Energy Regulator http://www.orer.gov.au/swh/index.html

Back to Top

Australia has one of the highest vehicle ownership rates in the world, with 614 registered vehicles per 1,000 people. Car ownership rates have risen from 8.6 million registered vehicles in 1985 to 10.9 million in 1996 (Source: From Motor Vehicle Census - Australian Bureau of Statistics).

Each year in Australia, 175 billion kilometres are driven equating to 23 billion litres of fuel and releasing about 63 million tonnes of greenhouse gases and other pollutants (Source: ICLEI - Cities for Climate Protection Australia).

For more information on means of sustainable transport please click on the following highlighted links:

• Cycleways and walkways
• Public transport

Did you know...

That if you plant 17 native trees each year, as they grow they will absorb the greenhouse gases that the average car produces in a year (based on 4.3 tonnes of CO2). To offset your car's greenhouse emissions come and join Council at one of our tree planting days.

Back to top

• Greenhouse Reduction Local Action Plan
• Energy Savings Action Plan
• Tree Planting Calendar