What is Climate Change?

Climate change is caused by an increase in the greenhouse gases in the Earth’s atmosphere. The increased concentrations of these gases trap more heat, which causes a warming of the Earth’s surface.

Over recent decades human activities – particularly burning fossil fuels (coal, oil and natural gas) and land clearing – have dramatically increased the amount of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, in the atmosphere.

Australia is very vulnerable to the various impacts of climate change, some of which are already being felt around the globe.

Research shows that:

• on average, the Earth is warming. Its temperature has already risen by around 0.7 degrees over the past 100 years, and may rise by between 1.4 and 5.8 degrees this century.
• sea levels are rising due to oceans expanding and glaciers and ice sheets melting—by 2100 sea levels may be from 9 to 88 centimetres higher.
• changes in weather patterns will intensify e.g. more severe droughts, heat waves, floods and storms; changes in rainfall patterns; and a higher likelihood of bushfires. 
• adverse impacts on plants and animals, agriculture and human  health will result as climate patterns shift.

Globally, the 10 warmest years on record have all occurred since 1990. Australia’s warmest year on record was 2005, which was 1.1 degrees above the average for the period 1961 to 1990.

(Source: Global Warming - cool it! Published by the Australian Greenhouse Office)

Reducing our greenhouse gas emissions is an essential part of limiting the impacts of climate change.

Tips to cut your contribution to climate change

1 Hot water use – Water heating is the biggest energy user in our homes -  install a water-saving showerhead, take shorter showers and use cold water for clothes washing to reduce the amount of hot water you use. This will save money on your energy bills and cut household greenhouse gas emissions by over one tonne per year.

Switch from electric to solar, heat pump or a gas hot water system to reduce energy use. Save up to $3,800 by taking advantage of the Australian and New South Wales Governments' rebates and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) for households.  For details and application forms:

NSW Climate Change Fund

Call 1300 361 967 or visit www.environment.nsw.gov.au/rebates

Australian Government- Energy Efficient Homes Package

Call 1800 808 571 or visit www.environment.gov.au/energyefficiency

Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs)

Your choice of hot water system will determine the amount of RECs you receive.  Ask your hot water service supplier for details.

2 Heat and cool your home less – Save on heating and cooling costs by insulating your ceilings and walls - take advantage of the Australian Government's rebates by checking out www.environment.gov.au/energyefficiency for information about insulation rebates.   Manage the way you heat and cool your house - use draught excluders and sealing, shading and set your thermostat appropriately. A difference of one degree on your thermostat can reduce energy use by 10 percent. 

3 Find out how much energy your appliances actually use - Gosford City Council residents now have free access to a FOCUS on Energy Kit that contains a power meter to measure the energy consumption of individual appliances and an information guide.  By testing appliances around the home you can better understand the individual power demands of different appliances.  Pop into your local library to borrow a kit, kits are available for loan for three weeks with a current library card.

4 Fridge Buyback - Old fridges are one of the biggest energy users in the home, consuming up to three times the energy of new fridges.  Running your second fridge adds an average of $210 a year to your power bills and puts one tonne of greenhouse gas into the environment.  Households that have been using two fridges can hand in their old working second fridges by calling 1800 708 401 during business hours to  make a booking.  The fridges collected are professionally degassed and the metals are recycled.  You fridge must be a working second fridge that has been in regular use, is 250 litres or more in size and at least 10 years old. Fridge buyback provides residents with free collection by professional removalists and a $35 rebate if the removal of the fridge involves 6 steps or less.  The fridge is collected for free if there are between 7-20 steps but no rebate available.  A fee will apply if the property has more than 20 steps.  

Visit the Fridge Buyback website at www.fridgebuyback.com.au for more details.

5 Lighting – Install energy efficient lighting, such as compact fluorescent lamps and switch them off when not in use. Each globe uses 80 percent less power and lasts six times as long.

6 Turn off standby power – Standby power can contribute to 10 percent of your home electricity bill. Turn appliances off at the switch to save some energy, and turn them off at the powerpoint to save even more. 

7 Switch to GreenPower – Signing up to 100 percent GreenPower will reduce your household emissions by around 50 percent. Go to the NSW GreenPower website to find out more.