Yarrow Andrew

Yarrow, where do you live?

Brunswick, VIC

Describe your home and energy system?

2 bedroom Victorian Terrace house. Gas for hot water and cooking. Electricity for the rest.

What have you done to reduce your greenhouse emissions?

Where do I start? Energy-efficient fridge and other appliances (ie laptop). CFLs for all lights. Insulation to roof, and some walls. Increase passive solar functioning of house and increase daylighting through skylights (insulated). I bike to work each day, and walk to do most errands. My partner and I use public transport for most trips except those far over the other side of the city, in which case I drive a modern efficient diesel (VW Golf). I also avoiding flying where possible.

Where have you saved the most energy?

Insulation, I think.

What are your future plans to save energy?

Solar Hot water, with single instantaneous gas booster. Perhaps living in a smaller house. Oh, and working closer to home.

Why have you become Climate Positive?

Human existence on this planet is in trouble, and few governments, with the odd exception (Costa Rica, Germany) seem prepared to do anything about it. Rather than feel frustrated, I like to take action.

How do you think we, our leaders and the broader community should tackle Climate Change?

• Mandate tough energy efficient standards for all buildings, residential and commercial.
• Pay more for waste removal, encouraging people to compost and recycle.
• Municipal biogas/organic waster collection.
• Effective public transport, connected into a network so that it works like in Switzerland.
• Stop logging old growth forest (how idiotic is that?)
• Immediate conversion of coal fired power stations to gas-fired.
• Australia has plenty of gas to run all our power-stations, even inefficiently, while we make the transition to significant renewables.

Thanks for your time Yarrow!