GREENHOUSE GAS AND THE GROWING THREAT TO OUR ENVIRONMENT

The Greenhouse Effect and the associated alarm bells, which are now sounding throughout the world, have received considerable coverage in recent times. The environmental conference, which was held recently in Japan, to attempt to achieve worldwide agreement on the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, has put Australia on notice that our record on energy usage is one of the worst in the developed world. It is now incumbent on the federal government to take the necessary steps to reduce the growth in our use of energy and our dependence on fossil fuels, and thereby reduce the greenhouse gas emissions. If the governments cannot encourage voluntary reductions to be made, it will be forced to resort to legislation, and a “Carrot and Stick” approach.

One of the major contributors to the production of greenhouse gas is the electrical power generating industry. For the year 1996/97, electricity generation from power stations burning fossil fuels in the three main eastern states, resulted in the discharge of nearly 130 million tonnes of greenhouse gas (CO2 equivalent) into the atmosphere. This equates to about 1 Kilogram of gas for every unit of electricity (Kilowatt Hour) consumed.

A number of possible methods can be considered to reduce our per capita demand for electrical energy. Power generation methods with lower emission levels. The two energy sources which can provide electrical power that is required by an industrialised nation like Australia are:

1. Hydro Electric Generation:- Being a dry and relative dry continent, we have already tapped a large proportion of our economically available power from this source, through the Snowy Mountains Hydro Scheme and the Tasmanian Hydroelectric Commission. However more power could be obtained from this source, without considering the economies involved.
2. Nuclear Power Generation:- This system introduces a new and potentially more dangerous set of environmental problems. Until a suitable means of disposing of nuclear waste is found, this is not an option that is likely to be acceptable to the Australian population.

Alternative methods of Power Generation:-
1. Solar power
2. Wind power
3. Geothermal power
4. Tidal and wave action

These energy sources would require high capital expenditure in relation to the amount of energy produced. If we take the example of solar derived energy from photovoltaic cells, or solar panels as they are commonly known, and then look at the energy equation, the results are far from encouraging. For a typical 65 watt solar panel costing about $500, the amount of power which would be generated on an average sunny day would be about 400 watt hours (0.4 Kwh). If this was generated for say 250 days per year, the total output for 1 year would be 100 Kwh (or 100 units of electricity). If this is costed at 15c per unit, the value of power generated would be about $15 per annum. The break even payback point for the panel is therefore something in excess of 30 years.

In this period the panel would save the generation of about 3 tonnes of greenhouse gas if the panel replaced a fossil powered generating source. To be subtracted from this saving, would be the energy expended in the initial manufacture of the panel and its components. While no figures are available, this can be expected to be a significant proportion of its lifetime generating capacity.

Energy savings by more efficient use of power and reduction in energy wastage.
Of all the methods available, this is the simplest to implement, and is probably the least capital intensive. It has the ability to make a significant reduction to our energy bill, and the associated reduction in greenhouse gas, without lifestyle reductions, which would be resisted by the population. Because we live in a relatively hot climate, one of our largest demands for energy is that of air conditioning. This particularly applies in our work place and in large public buildings such as shopping centres. Significant power savings can therefore be made by making more efficient use of air conditioning. Reducing the amount of heat energy entering a building, which must be removed by the air conditioning plant, can provide this improvement.

Enter Solacoat
Solacoat works by reflecting solar energy from the surface to which it is applied. Long term testing has shown that for a galvanised iron or colourbond steel roof, then application of Solacoat to the exterior surface will reduce the heat load to be removed by the air conditioner, by reducing the surface temperature of the roof as much as 40oC. Power savings for a typical building with a roof area of 10,000 square metres could be expected to be 100,000 Kwh per year or more. This would give a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions for this building alone, of about 100 tonnes per annum.

Solacoat requires little energy in production and has the economic benefit of a payback period of 4 to 5 years. In addition the solution is HERE and NOW, it does not required any special technology to apply, and cost and environmental benefits start immediately with minimal ongoing cost and maintenance demands.
Should the use of Solacoat be factored into the design of a new building, a further reduction in the payback period could be expected.