Carbon Footprints: Australia vs. Tacoma

 As we prepare our packing lists, read up on the locations we'll be visiting, and catch up with the Health Center, I am also preparing myself for the sudden growth of my foot.  While in Tacoma, my electricity is sourced from about 4% coal combustion.  In Australia, it will be over 75%.  That means that my carbon footprint while in Australia will be almost 19 times what it is here at home, without changing any of my normal day activities.  

Thank goodness we are headed to an eco-village for part of the trip, but I will be looking into ways to cut back my electricity usage while on the road.

Australia's Electricity

• Australia is heavily dependent on coal for electricity, more so than any other developed country except Denmark and Greece. Three quarters is derived from coal.
• Australia's electricity is low-cost by world standards.
• Natural gas is increasingly used for electricity, especially in SA and WA.
• After many years of low investment, there is a major challenge to build more generating capacity.

Electricity consumption in Australia has been growing at nearly double the rate of energy use overall. In 2008-09 about 11,000 kWh per capita was used, including that incorporated into exports.

Electricity generation takes 44% of Australia's primary energy, and in terms of final energy consumption, electricity provides 24% of the total. test

Energy in Australia

Much of the energy exported from Australia is used for......read more here.