How to reduce your carbon emissions with a solar battery!
Bad news… carbon emissions have started rising again. After three years of little to no growth global carbon emissions are on the rise again according to the latest report by Global Carbon Project. And to add fuel to the fire, Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions are rising to the highest figures seen in years. But it’s not all bad news. We can all make a positive difference for the planet by offsetting and reducing our carbon footprint at home.
The latest carbon emissions facts
New figures from the Department of Environment released early January show that Australia’s carbon emissions have increased for the last three consecutive years and have increased 0.7 per cent in the last financial year (2016-17) alone.
The Quarterly Update of Australia’s National Greenhouse Gas Inventory: June 2017 showed Australia’s annual emissions in 2016-17 increased on the previous year to 550 mega tonne of carbon emissions (550.2 mmt CO2-e).
What does that look like?
It’s equivalent to 118 passenger cars driving for one year but it can be offsetted by 1,375 households washing their clothes using only cold water in one year.
But it’s not all bad news. We can all make a positive difference for the planet by offsetting and reducing our CO2 emissions at home.
You don’t have to make drastic changes, you can start one small step at a time, and still make a big difference.
Ways to reduce your carbon footprint
1. Start the new year with a new tree!
Did you know planting a small tree in your front yard could possibly lower your electricity bill initially by $28? No really! And the bigger the tree the bigger the savings. Large trees could save you as much as $400 on your annual electricity bill.
The shade from a single tree in front of your house can save the same amount of energy as what 10 room-size air conditioners need to run for 20 hours a day.
Use trees to provide windbreaks around your house, it can reduce your heating bill and energy consumption by 20 to 50 per cent per year.
Trees can not only can reduce your electricity bill but will absorb nearly 22 kilos of carbon dioxide per year and cut one ton of carbon dioxide by the time it reaches 40 years old! It also releases enough oxygen to supply your needs for two years.
Planting trees has so many benefits, they can reduce CO2 emissions, cool your home and reduce your electricity bills!
2. Generate your own energy with solar
There’s nothing more empowering than knowing your household is making a positive impact on the planet, and going solar is one of the most effective ways of reducing your carbon footprint. On average for every kWh of energy generated by solar you reduce your household carbon emissions by 0.72 kg.
The following table shows the carbon emissions a 2KW solar system will prevent in one year and in 15 years.
Solar panels reduce your carbon emissions and by self-consuming your solar when you need it, you can reduce your need to purchase electricity from the electricity grid and share your excess more efficiently and sustainably.
When no one is home to use electricity during the day, all the electricity you generate disappears into the electricity grid. While it's great that you're adding more renewable energy to our grid, later when you need to use electricity and have to buy it from the grid this becomes counterproductive.
Considering more than 60 per cent of all electricity in Australia comes from high-polluting coal-fired power generation choosing to power your home from renewable energy sources can drastically reduce your carbon footprint. Not to mention that when you produce excess and share your electricity back to the grid it’s making a real difference to your community.
A smart energy management setup like Reposit First, can help you to self-consume your solar. You can time your power hungry appliances to use energy when you're generating it - reducing your power bill, carbon emissions and need to purchase electricity from the grid.
3. Invest in a solar battery with Reposit
Investing in a solar battery that’s connected to Reposit will reduce your reliance on the grid, and consequently your reliance on dirty, coal-fuelled energy. It also monitors the weather and knows when it will be sunny or cloudy adjusting your solar battery setup to store what you need, and share the rest.
With more than 60 per cent of all electricity in Australia coming from coal, making a switch to renewable energy sources will substantially reduce your carbon footprint throughout your lifetime.
With Reposit installed, your solar battery will also be optimised to maximise your savings as well as your dependence on the grid.
Be a part of the community that’s helping to change the electricity industry by participating in a Reposit community big battery. If you have, or are planning to install a solar battery setup with a Reposit-compatible solar battery, you’re just steps away from joining a community of people that are reaping the environmental and financial benefits of powering their community with solar.
These easy tips will offset carbon in your home, and are a simple way to reduce the need to use cooling and heating, save energy and lower your electricity bill.
- Change the colour of your roof to a light shade
- Add rollout awnings or outdoor blinds
- Invest in some heavy curtains and blinds
- Find ways to ventilate the house, e.g. which windows to open when there's a breeze
- Plant vegetation around the house, in front of windows especially western boundaries
- Replace hard paving with lawn or go for light pavement colours
Find out more about Reposit’s smart software today. We can help you find the right setup for your home to help lower your carbon footprint and be your own mini power station.
