Transcript Sustainability Program for Community Housing Organisations

This project has been assisted by
the New South Wales Government
through its Energy Efficiency Training Program
Sustainability Program for Community
Housing Organisations
Compass Housing Services
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reproduced and adapted, provided the meaning is unchanged and its source, publisher and authorship are
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document are factual and free of error. However, the State of NSW and the Office of Environment and Heritage
shall not be liable for any damage which may occur in relation to any person taking action or not on the basis of
this document.
Office of Environment and Heritage, Department of Premier and Cabinet
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Email: [email protected]
Website: www.environment.nsw.gov.au
2
Course Contents
Global Perspective
Understanding Energy
Water
Thermal performance
Our precious planet, what’s
happening?
Sources and distribution
How energy comes into, around, and
out of our homes
Decisions, efficiency, actions
Appliances
Usage and efficiency
Case studies
Assessments of 2 homes in class
The results
Assessments and report work
Global Perspective
• Our precious planet, A
Global Perspective.
• What’s the problem?
• A need for change?
21 slides
1 x 22 minute movie
Our planet
• The only one we’ve got
• Are we looking after it?
• In 1961, we humans
used 62.% of global biocapacity. pop 3 billion
• In 2010, humans are
using 144% of global biocapacity. Pop 6 billion
Credit : NASA Earth Observatory
The balance sheet….. currently
Credit: infographics
• In 40 years global population will be
around 9 billion
Consider that:
• Many of the worlds populations aspire
to live highly consumerist lifestyle,
such as is modelled in US TV
programs.
• The chart relates to the earth’s ability
to maintain the natural systems which
support life as we know it.
• Australia currently has a Global Deficit
of 2-4 Planets according to the Happy
Planet Index with an Ecological
Footprint of 7.8 Hectares (gha) per
person, that’s 2.8 times the average
global footprint (2.7gha)
After one look at this planet any visitor from outer space would say "I want to see the
manager". William S. Burroughs
Behind the scenes 1.
Coal
Credit: Google Maps
• Coal from here goes around
the world.
• It took the world about 4
billion years to store the
Carbon
• Peak fossil fuels will likely
run out before 2050*
Petroleum
Credit: futurecars.com
Credit: pelican post
‘My father rode a camel, I drive a car, my son flies in a jetliner, his son will ride a camel.’
- A Saudi saying
Hidden Costs to the Planet.
•Merbau / Kwila flooring and
decking
•The shiny new things we buy
here often hide a dark story of
exploitation and environmental
degradation.
•What do you think about the
way that many products the
‘wealthy’ countries buy affect
wildlife and indigenous people?
•We can choose to support only
products that are ethically
produced.
Cost of Waste
• At least some
of the waste
gets recycled…
• But at what
cost to people
and the
environment ?
Source: Greenpeace
earthhopenetwork.net
Life cycle assessment.
When it comes to energy, a whole of life cycle of a
system needs to be considered.
i.e. the GHG we generate when we run an air
conditioner is only a portion of the total CO2
Discussion..
Q. What is the other part?
A. Embodied energy
It seems like the problems are
pretty big!?!....
Big problems have been fixed before….
• The protective ozone layer
was found to be diminishing,
and then a giant hole
developed in the ozone layer
over the Southern Ocean,
Antarctica.
http://www.theozonehole.com/ozonehole2003.htm
• The Ozone layer protects all
life from the bulk of (99%)
UV radiation- that which
causes sunburn and skin
cancer.
European space agency
Scientists identified the problem, the
cause, and the solution.
• Scientists were originally
ridiculed when they said man
made chemicals were
responsible
• Businesses and politicians
eventually realised that there
was a real and serious problem
• CFCs and HCFC chemicals were
banned and now the ozone
hole is shrinking, as the
chemicals break down
Greenhouse gases- the major ones
•
•
•
•
Are very common and very natural
At original levels, they were perfectly OK
Humanity has massively increased the amounts in the atmosphere
Water vapour is the most common GHG
Greenhouse gases
• As coal fired power station output continues,
CO2 levels are increasing rapidly
Rapid change in Global Energy Use
Credit: manicore
• The extremely fast rise in consumption of fossil fuel
usage is having a big impact on the atmosphere.
• The vast majority of energy currently used releases
carbon dioxide into the air.
(The y axis refers to million tonnes of oil equivalent)
Greenhouse gas and temperature
change
•There is a direct correlation between increased carbon
dioxide in the air, and global temperature rise.....
•When the CO2 and Methane levels increase the world
gets hotter. Already we are seeing the changes.
Global temperature rise.
Graph Credit: US EPA.
•Generally, there is no question amongst credible scientists that
the global temperature is rising as a result of human activity
•As climate change occurs, water and food supply are likely to
become much more uncertain in many areas.
Should we act sooner, or later?
If the overwhelming majority of heart surgeons
suggested you need a heart operation within a week...
Would you delay taking action?
“If we do not change our direction we are likely
to end up where we are headed for.”
Chinese Proverb
Where we seem to be headed….
• Sea level rise- millions of environmental refugees
• Species depletion- eg. Food support systems
breaking down- starvation on an enormous scale.
• Extreme weather- drought/ flood
• Liquid fuel/ agricultural energy shortages/freight
to cities food miles. Food becomes very
expensive, and food supply inconsistent.
Take a deep breath.
And relax...
..because there are many things we
can do to create positive change
Flow Rates
Home Activity for Day 2
Items:
• Kitchen jug, with litres marked
• watch./ timer
• Turn on shower to normal flow rate.
• Catch the water in the jug for 10 seconds
• Measure litres
• Multiply by 6 to make up a minute
• = flow rate in litres/ minute