Australia’s move towards net zero emissoions by 2020 is in danger of stalling. If it is not to fail, the nation urgently needs a government plan, aligned with industry and with public support.
People who switch from gas to reverse-cycle air conditioning to heat their homes still want to feel comfortable. Some don’t. Home electrification programs must tackle the causes of the problem.
Electricity prices are going up again by as much as 25% on July 1. The advice to consumers is to shop around to get the best deal. Yet neither electricity bills nor comparison sites are user-friendly.
Energy poverty puts people’s health and wellbeing at risk, but many vulnerable households go undetected. Trusted intermediaries, such as doctors and community workers, can help solve this problem.
What is the electricity grid and how does it work? How are energy supply and prices determined? An expert breaks down a few of the terms and ideas underpinning Australia’s energy crisis.
Australia might be a long way away, but fossil fuel price spikes triggered by the Russian invasion of Ukraine are hitting households hard. We could have avoided this pain.
An official report on Thursday said blackouts are not expected this summer. But consumers will still have to pay through the nose to make the system more reliable.
There has never been a better time for public money to go into improving the performance of Australian housing. We could have cut household bills and emissions, as well as saving construction jobs.
Trying to keep cool this summer while not blowing the power bill? A new mobile game aims to encourage energy efficiency - and research shows it can be more effective than simple advertising campaigns.