11 points and 14 questions for Councils to reduce household gas demand
A set of possibilities prepared September 2020 by Jim Crosthwaite with ideas from Tim Forcey, Amaryll Perlesz, Amanda Stone and others.
We are in a climate emergency. Fossil gas contributes massively to climate change, especially when all emissions including intentional releases are accounted for. Gas use is widespread in our localities – 5 million households and 300,000 businesses in Australia.
There is huge potential to reduce gas use dramatically and save money, as outlined in an Environment Victoria report. Simple measures include using reverse cycle air conditioners (i.e. heat pumps) for heating, and ensuring old gas-hot water services are replaced with electrically-driven heat pumps. We can aim for zero gas in buildings within 10 years.
We must act at local level as well as state and national levels. So what is the role of climate action groups, councils and local communities to be?
Which of your council candidates are supporting measures such as those outlined in this document?
| For climate groups | |
| A commitment to take up the campaign around local gas use by households and business | Has your climate group taken any action on fossil gas? What about locally on household gas use? |
| For councils | |
| A council climate emergency plan | |
| Argue for a climate emergency plan which has a strong set of actions for households, businesses and councils themselves to electrify so as to reduce fossil gas use while increasing comfort and energy efficiency, and reducing costs over time | Does your council have a plan to act on its own emissions? Does your council have a climate emergency plan that addresses gas use by households and businesses? Has your council proposed employing a Climate Emergency officer to mobilise community action? |
| Community education and mobilisation | |
| Introduce strong community education and mobilisation programs to explain and promote the economic alternatives to fossil gas in households and business. Advise residents of information sharing opportunities like the My Efficient Electric Home Facebook group. | Is there any community education and mobilisation by any organisation in your area around reducing gas use in households? |
| Support and promote an advice service for household energy that makes recommendations on heat pumps, other appliances and installers, such as that run by the Australian Energy Foundation. Note the information also available from RENEW, Environment Victoria and Beyond Zero Emissions, and the ACTs Make the Switch. | Is your council considering an advice service for household energy that makes recommendations on heat pumps, other appliances and installers? Or does your council support the service run by the Australian Energy Foundation ? |
| Ensure households and small business have available, and know about, reputable services to call for advice on emergency replacement of hot water services (likely 100,000 + break down every year from the 1.5m units in Victoria) | Has there been any consideration of setting up a reputable service to call for advice on emergency replacement of hot water services (noting that there are probably 100,000 + break down every year from the 1.5m units in Victoria)? |
| Energy efficiency | |
| Support measures to improve homes with energy efficiency (draught proofing, insulation and thermal window coverings) for comfort and health, with priority to low income households | |
| Actively require efficient electric renewable alternatives (e.g. heat pumps) to gas appliances for new house builds and major renovations through Planning Scheme Amendments. | Has there been any consideration of a Planning Scheme amendment to require efficient electric renewable alternatives like heat pumps to gas appliances for new house builds and major renovations? |
| Network and lobby | |
| Press for state government action to reduce household and business gas use through energy upgrade and efficiency schemes, and advice and incentives to transition from gas appliances with efficient electric renewable alternatives (e.g. heat pumps). Lobby directly through council, but also through the Municipal Association of Victoria, Victorian Local Governance Association and other networks. Call for relevant Planning Scheme Amendments, strong changes to the Victorian Energy Upgrades program and other schemes for energy upgrades and efficiency. Specifically implement all the recommendations in the Northmore Gordon report commissioned by Environment Victoria for removing all the current regulations that favour fossil gas | Is your council lobbying the Victorian government on action to reduce household and business gas use, for example through energy upgrade and efficiency schemes, and advice and incentives to transition from gas appliances with efficient electric renewable alternatives (e.g. heat pumps)? Is your council calling for relevant Planning Scheme Amendments? Is your council calling for implementation of all the recommendations in the Northmore Gordon report, including changes to the Victorian Energy Upgrades program and other schemes for energy upgrades and efficiency? |
| Work closely with climate action, sustainability and social justice groups to bring community onside for efficient electric systems (like heat pumps) and gas reduction. | How closely is your council working with climate action, sustainability and social justice groups to bring community onside for efficient electric systems (like heat pumps) and gas reduction? |
| Use council networks with businesses to reach out about going electric to a) plumbers and other trades involved in installing and repairing heating, cooling, cooking and hot water b) architects, builders building surveyors and others involved in new builds and major renovations. | Are there signs that your council is using its business networks to reach out about going electric to a) plumbers and other trades involved in installing and repairing heating, cooling, cooking and hot water b) architects, builders building surveyors and others involved in new builds and major renovations? |
| Work on local energy initiatives with Beyond Zero Emissions in implementing their Zero Carbon Communities program. | Is your council working on local energy initiatives with Beyond Zero Emissions in implementing their Zero Carbon Communities program? |
Election forums in Geelong region
| Date | Time | Ward | Organiser |
| Mon 5 Oct | 7:00-8:30pm | Bellarine | CBCA |
| Wed 7 Oct | 12:00-1:00pm | Kardinia | The Pulse – Zoom + Fb livestream |
| Wed 7 Oct | 1:30-2:30pm | Windemere | The Pulse – Zoom + Fb livestream |
| Thurs 8 Oct | 1:30-2:30pm | Bellarine | The Pulse – Zoom + Fb livestream |
| Thurs 8 Oct | 7:00-8:30pm | Bellarine | CBCA |
| Fri 9 Oct | 12:00-1:00pm | Brownbill | The Pulse – Zoom + Fb livestream |
| ?? Oct | ?? pm | Windemere | Lara Community Network Group |