The two pie charts compare the proportion of energy consumed by different activities in an average Australian home with the proportion of greenhouse gas emissions each activity generates.
Overall, heating accounts for the largest share of household energy use, whereas water heating is the biggest contributor to emissions. Notably, several categories consume relatively little energy yet produce a disproportionately large share of emissions, most strikingly other appliances.
Heating dominates energy consumption at 42%, followed by water heating at 30% and other appliances at 15%. Refrigeration, lighting and cooling together make up just 13%, with cooling the smallest at a mere 2%. In terms of emissions, however, heating’s share falls sharply to 15%, despite being the largest energy consumer overall.
By contrast, water heating and other appliances generate a combined 60% of emissions, considerably outweighing their combined energy share of 45%. Other appliances in particular show a striking imbalance, rising from 15% of energy use to 28% of emissions – almost double. Refrigeration follows a similar pattern, climbing from 7% to 14%. Lighting and cooling remain minor contributors throughout, though lighting’s emissions share (8%) is still double its energy share (4%).