On what we learnt at Flick the Switch – that we want more net zero News from the front desk, issue 492: Here at The Fifth Estate our heads are spinning after what was an action packed five hours at our Flick the Switch event…
How many staff come to the office because it offers a better working environment than home? You need to know this Elena Zuvela and Dr Samantha Hall The Covid -19 pandemic has been nothing short of a monumental experiment. Within weeks, workplaces were forced into changes that would normally take years to implement. Reactions to the current…
Study: gas hot water not the answer Cameron Jewell | 1 October 2013 By Cameron Jewell 1 October 2013 — Gas hot water isn’t as sustainable as point-of-use instant electric systems under many circumstances, according to a new study out of RMIT University.
Is gas heating really cheaper than electric? Kate Leslie, Alternative Technology Association | 5 May 2016 It’s autumn, the weather is finally starting to cool, and in some homes in Australia ducted heating systems are being switched on for the first time this year, sending hot…
Hydro eliminates need for coal and gas, ANU says Cameron Jewell | 27 February 2017 A 100 per cent renewable grid of solar and wind backed up by pumped hydro energy storage will eliminate the need for coal and gas, according to ANU researchers –…
Global spotlight on South Australia as it leads huge energy storage shake-up Cameron Jewell | 14 March 2017 The world’s eyes have been on South Australia and its energy security issues after high profile tweets between the CEOs of Tesla and Atlassian went viral. Now SA premier Jay…
Does demand response really mean warm beer and suffering poor? Willow Aliento | 19 October 2017 Coal-loving commentators have erupted with fuming outrage and wildly inaccurate assertions about demand response following last week’s announcement of the successful projects for ARENA and the Australian Energy Market Operator’s demand response pilot.
ACT announces plans to make Ginninderry precinct gas-free Cameron Jewell | 5 February 2018 The ACT’s master-planned Ginninderry development will trial a gas-free residential precinct comprising 350 homes.
There’s no reason for new homes to include gas, report finds Cameron Jewell | 4 June 2018 New homes that go all-electric with solar would save between $9000-$18,000 over 10 years compared with a home that has gas appliances and no solar, according to new research from the Australian Technology Association (ATA).
Gas: your end is near Willow Aliento – Oxygen Files | 18 July 2019 If you believe the hype from the government and from the fossil fuel industry, gas is poised to swoop in and heroically stimulate the economy, reduce energy prices and save Australia’s emissions trajectory.
As Bass Strait winds down, is this an opportunity to get off gas? Tim Forcey | 22 October 2019 Thinking of buying a gas-burning space-heater, water-heater or cooktop? As eastern Australia’s traditional gas supplies from the Bass Strait dry up, you might want to think again.
CEFC gets $1 billion for grid stability… gas included? Poppy Johnston | 31 October 2019 The Morrison government has sunk an extra $1 billion into a new fund for “grid reliability” to be managed by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC) but an energy expert has warned that the necessary legislative updates will allow the green bank to finance gas projects.
Cooking with gas: bad for the planet, and bad for your health Poppy Johnston | 21 May 2020 Australia’s federal government looks like it’s digging its heels in on gas but be warned, cooking with it is bad for your health. And while rangehoods can help, not all of them were created equal. In fact, the best ones are so loud people don’t turn them on.
On gas and hot air The Fifth Estate – our view | 22 May 2020 News from the front desk: Five or six years ago the notion of cheap and plentiful gas available to our homes and offices might have been something to fear for its impact on climate and our greenhouse gas emissions.
On how the all-electric, net zero horse has already bolted The Fifth Estate - our view | 28 May 2020 News from the front desk, Issue 483: Last week, the Morrison government unleashed its technology roadmap on Australia, starring natural gas in a leading role. It didn’t take long for…
Gas is not the solution for our clean energy future Finnian Murphy, Bright Sparks | 22 June 2020 Say it with me: gas is not a transition fuel. COVID-19 could be the trigger for the much-needed step change in our clean energy transition. But the Morrison government has…
