Low Carbon Living CRC set to meet emissions reduction target

Now in its final year of funding, the CRC for Low Carbon Living (CRCLCL) is well on track to meet its founding goal of 10 megatonnes cumulative reduction in carbon emissions by 2020, which will enable a projected economic benefit to Australia of $684 million by 2027.

That’s according to CRCLCL CEO Scientia Professor Deo Prasad AO, who spoke this morning at the CRC’s Annual Participants’ Forum — From Research to Reality — held at the National Wine Centre of Australia in Adelaide.

Prof Prasad said the past six years of low-carbon research will significantly help reduce carbon emissions in Australia’s built environment now and into the future, through new technology and changes to policy and human behaviour.

“Our research collaborations with industry and government have proved that a low- to zero-carbon future is not pie in the sky as our research now becomes a reality and makes a real impact, which is the focus of this forum,” he said.

“Over 120 projects have produced excellent results, such as the Built to Perform report which proves that changes to the National Construction Code could improve energy efficiency in Australian buildings by up to 56% and cut household energy bills by $200–900 per year; and a low-carbon schools education pilot program, which saved 266 tonnes of carbon emissions in Western Australia, is now a viable ongoing national program called ClimateClever.

“The Low Carbon Living Australia program, a pilot which helped 80 tourism businesses in the Blue Mountains lower their carbon emissions by 15%, has now been rolled out nationally with partner Eco Tourism Australia; and our urban heat mitigation projects have provided an authoritative new body of Australian research critical to how we keep our cities cool, now and into the future.”

Blockchain technology research for solar energy sharing and pricing which was conducted at one of the CRCLCL’s 16 Living Laboratories — White Gum Valley in Perth — was the foundation of a new business called Power Ledger, co-founded by CRCLCL researcher Dr Jemma Green. Power Ledger recently won Sir Richard Branson’s Extreme Technology Challenge, which provides entrepreneurs with access to key investors, innovators and high-profile entrepreneurs.

“Our research has also revealed that 81% of a home’s electricity supply can be met by a combination of solar 3 kW PV and a 10 kWh battery, and that owner-occupiers of net zero energy homes will save $24,935 over their home’s lifetime,” Prof Prasad said.

Running today and tomorrow, the forum will also cover topics including the trial of geopolymer concrete ocean barricades; low-carbon construction materials; cool roofs for large buildings; energy-efficient pool pumps; low-carbon wastewater treatment; and engaging communities to take low-carbon action.

International speakers are Brian Collins, Professor of Engineering Policy at University College London and Director of the International Centre for Infrastructure Futures; and Ivo Martinac, Professor and Chair, Building Services and Energy Systems KTH Royal Institute of Technology Sweden. Both will share their expert knowledge and experience on delivering low- to zero-carbon urban environments from a policy and practice perspective.

They join Australian keynote speakers the Hon Mark Butler, Shadow Minister for Climate Change and Energy and Labor Member for Port Adelaide; the Hon David Speirs, SA Minister for Environment and Water South Australian and State Member for Black; Richard Turner, SIMEC ZEN Energy; and Dr Jemma Green.

The full forum program is available at the CRCLCL website.

Image credit: ©iStockphoto.com/Amriphoto