On Australia Day I was angry. As heatwaves, bushfires and blackouts blitzed the nation, my household tried to scrimp carbon by changing the setting on our evaporative cooler. We salvaged 8 kilograms of carbon dioxide and equivalent emissions (CO2e). It wasn't worth the quarrel.
Then I ran the numbers on grid electricity in other states. We'd save 900 kilograms CO2e in summer alone by moving to Tasmania. How? The Tasmanian grid uses more renewable energy. They save with no sweat.
Coal-fired electricity gets so much attention in Australia's climate wars because it makes such a massive difference to our carbon footprint. To generate the 6,633 kilowatt hours needed to run the average 3 person house for a year, Tasmania would emit less than 1.5 tonnes CO2e. Victoria would emit over 7.5 tonnes CO2e. The only thing the householders would notice is that they'd get fewer blackouts from failing coal-fired power stations.
We already have rooftop solar, battery solar, community solar and big solar farms. We also have wind, hydro, hot rocks and a cornucopia of tech. We have plenty of options to keep the lights on and the economy running without coal. Let's make the switch before Australia's underwater.
THIS IS THE NINTH OF TEN INSTALLATIONS AT 'ART, NOT APART 2019'.
CAN YOU FIND NINE MORE HIDDEN AROUND THE FESTIVAL?
Lego kindly on loan from The Green Shed.
Data and sources are here. See also Blog Post for Week Twenty.