Journal article
Power to change: Analysis of household participation in a renewable energy and energy efficiency programme in Central Australia
Energy Policy, Vol.87, pp.325-333
2015
Abstract
The Australian government funded a national Solar City program (2008-2013) to support communities to increase adoption of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy technology. One community was Alice Springs, a town with about 9000 households in the geographic centre of Australia. The programme offered a package of support: free energy audits, discounts for the purchase of renewable energy technology and energy efficiency measures, and ongoing information. Households that adopted solar hot water and photovoltaic systems reduced their electricity usage immediately after adoption by 10% and 34% respectively, and this was maintained in the long term. A small rebound effect of 15% was observed in the photovoltaic adopters. It was observed that, on average, households that adopted only energy efficiency measures did not have a significant reduction in their electricity usage over the long term. However, consistent with expectations, this study did show that there was a significant correlation between the number of energy efficiency measures adopted and the greatest household reduction in electricity usage. These contrary results indicate that there are additional factors involved. The connection between the effective use of measures, coincident behavioural change or increased energy awareness and greater energy reduction is discussed. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.
Details
- Title
- Power to change: Analysis of household participation in a renewable energy and energy efficiency programme in Central Australia
- Authors
- L Havas (Author) - Charles Darwin UniversityJ Ballweg (Author) - Charles Darwin UniversityC Penna (Author) - Alice Solar CityDigby Race (Author) - Charles Darwin University
- Publication details
- Energy Policy, Vol.87, pp.325-333
- Publisher
- Elsevier Ltd.
- Date published
- 2015
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.enpol.2015.09.017
- ISSN
- 0301-4215
- Organisation Unit
- Tropical Forests and People Research Centre; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; Forest Research Institute
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 99451091002621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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