Energy efficiency is key to reducing carbon emissions

While experts have described 2015’s projected 0.6% dip in greenhouse gas emissions as great news, smh.com.au reported it is likely to be a temporary trend. The website said the decline - the first in a year when the world was not in recession - is due to a push toward cleaner energy sources, like solar and wind power.

One of the main contributors to the drop was China, which is pushing toward cleaner energy to fuel their growing economy, but rising emissions from the developing world, such as a rapidly expanding electrical grid in India, mean that "it is unlikely that emissions have peaked for good."

The Huffington Post has reported that energy efficiency just may be the solution, with the International Energy Agency (IEA) claiming that “energy efficiency can deliver 38% of what is needed to keep our planet within the two degree scenario of global warming by 2050.”

The technologies to ensure energy efficiency already exist - the building sector accounts for around one third of global energy use, and up to 40% of its energy use in heating and cooling systems could be cut by technologies like variable-speed compressors, control valves and radiator thermostats.

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More than half of the energy used for generating electricity is lost every day, prompting the development of new technologies designed to capture this surplus heat. It's believed that by applying this type of solution broadly across the energy sector, emissions could be reduced by up to 58%.

There are now calls for world leaders to push for policies and frameworks designed to implement energy efficient solutions on the global, national and local scale.

Want to do your part to reduce emissions by making your home energy efficient this summer? Here are Mozo’s 5 top tips:

  1. Use natural cooling solutions. Close your curtains through the day when the sun is at its hottest, and then open windows at night for a cool evening breeze.

  2. If you would rather use air conditioning, clean the air filters in your air conditioner so it can work more efficiently.

  3. While your newly cleaned air conditioner is running, close the doors to rooms you’re not using, so there’s less work for the aircon to do.

  4. Keep your house within the recommended temperature of between 23°C and 26°C for greater efficiency because for every 1 degree your air conditioner is set lower, the cost of running your system increases by 10%.

  5. Check the insulation in your home. Plug leaks wherever they may appear - floor, walls, ceiling and around window panes - to keep the hot air out and the cool air in.

And remember to check out our free energy comparison tool to find the most affordable and efficient energy deal for you!

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