How will your energy get greener? Depends where you live

摘要: In Australia’s middle and outer suburbs, rooftop solar technology provides a clear way to reduce the emissions from energy our houses use. But higher density housing types (apartments medium housing) do not lend themselves at scale needed make difference household carbon budgets. So how will those people living in inner suburbs change lower-carbon energy? We believe urban fabric shape transition low futures both transport fuel renewable (see Figure 1 below). The approach we suggest makes distinction between relatively easy technological changes more difficult structural changes. 1: Model framework for interventions suburban forms of built environment. There are substitutions that can be adopted areas: reducing car use increasing sustainable transport. dwelling now becoming feasible lower – as shown by new data presented here. there need harder areas well. What’s happening on suburbs' roofs? major cities dominate installed capacity. Adelaide, Brisbane Perth punching above their weight 12 also large number non-metropolitan regions with high levels installation; these include Hunter, Sunshine Coast, Richmond-Tweed, Wide Bay–Burnett. 2: Electricity generated PV statistical division. Derived supplied ORER (Clean Energy Australia) geography take-up within is distinctive figures below; all produced provided Clean Australia; Office Renewable Regulator). A mapping postcode average capacity over period 2001 2011 reveals spatial divide city. 3: Above installation Sydney, Melbourne Brisbane. 4: Adelaide Perth. Rooftop has rapidly easily diffused car-dependent Australian cities. This likely continue space cost installing seems available fits To save fossil however, than household-based approaches provide. They relying government support policy infrastructure. redevelopment (beginning where priority due age stock). supported practices enable better transit active such walking cycling, well policies charging infrastructure so supplemented electric vehicles. Regenerating established, or fast, but it have happen if going become sustainable. outlined some pathways intervention paper Greening greyfields. inner-city roads? central different ways. For them, route switch modes. New light rail lines viable form city was them mind. Short commutes mean buy challenge dependence fossil-fuel-dominated power grid. Higher putting cells every roof. could help denser participate future, precinct systems. These systems typically gas powered (natural gas, biogas etc) cogeneration trigeneration (electricity plus heating cooling) service local long sufficient users reasonable distance provide economies scale. When developed been applied globally recent years areas. any area find this process distances distribution short. theory here development enables recognise simple substitution possible parts deeper others. Both begin decarbonising environment using radically fabric. However, planning strategies tailored specific challenges opportunities fabrics actually presenting. At least begin. Peter Newton received funding research Research Council (Discovery Project: Green Shoots? Exploring Genesis Development Economy Australia). He affiliated CRC Low Carbon Living. Newman article originally published Conversation. Read original article. Authors: Newton, Professor Sustainable Urbanism Swinburne University Technology Newman, Sustainability Curtin Photo Credit: kevin dooley via Compfight cc