The two charts illustrate how energy is consumed in an average Australian household and the proportion of greenhouse gas emissions generated by each category of energy use.
Overall, while heating accounts for the largest share of energy consumption, it is water heating that contributes the most to greenhouse gas emissions. In contrast, other appliances consume a relatively small proportion of energy but are responsible for a significantly higher percentage of emissions.
In terms of household energy use, heating represents the largest portion at 42%, followed by water heating at 30%. Appliances make up 15%, while refrigeration stands at 7%. Lighting accounts for 4%, and cooling represents the smallest fraction, only 2%.
However, the pattern changes when considering greenhouse gas emissions. Water heating is the major contributor, responsible for 32% of total emissions, despite consuming less energy than heating. Appliances produce 28% of emissions, almost double their actual energy use share. Refrigeration also shows a notable difference, at 14% of emissions compared to only 7% of usage. Similarly, lighting and cooling account for 8% and 3% of emissions, respectively. Heating, on the other hand, drops significantly, making up only 15% of total emissions, which is much lower than its 42% share of energy consumption.
In conclusion, although heating dominates household energy consumption in Australia, water heating, appliances, and refrigeration are the main sources of greenhouse gas emissions. This suggests that some types of energy use are more emission-intensive than others.