Climate Change Adaptation and Energy Futures

Project Overview

The Climate Change Adaptation and Energy Futures project concluded in June 2017. Research in this project aimed to seek solutions that can be implemented by households, communities and businesses which increases their ability to adapt to climate change, reduce energy costs and access transport in remote areas. The project used participatory research with local communities and businesses to ask what options were feasible for:

• adaptation to climate change in remote Australia that enhance community liveability and business viability
• adoption of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures by households and businesses in remote Australia, including for transport systems.

Two main areas of research were carried out: Enterprise energy futures and Transport futures.

Enterprise energy futures: This project conducted case studies in Central Australia and Far North Queensland to find out what interventions can reduce energy costs and improve liveability in remote community art centre buildings. The project also looked at how well these savings can be extended to other residents of remote communities. The Energy Futures in Remote Australia sub-project will inform policies and provide advice for improved energy management by-community based enterprises in central and northern Australia.

The project informed policies and provided advice for improved energy management by community-based enterprises in central and northern Australia. It built the capacity of individuals, communities and businesses to make informed decisions about how to adapt to climate change, to improve community liveability, human comfort and business viability. Through this research, decisions were able to be made about thermal effectiveness of building materials and designs typically used for building construction in remote Australia, and gaps in knowledge that require further research were defined.

The evidence-based research will determine thermal effectiveness of building materials and designs typically used for building construction in remote Australia, and determine what gaps in knowledge require further research.

Outputs from this research included:

• User-friendly energy assessments and recommendations for eight case study buildings comprising four art centres and four houses linked to each art centre
• Baseline models for residential and enterprise building heating and cooling energy consumption that can be scaled for appliance usage and building size. These were derived for two building types (breeze block and steel frame) in two climate zones (high humidity summer, warm winter; hot dry summer, warm winter)
• Art centre energy monitoring infrastructure and training materials, and optional training for art centre managers in their use
• Research report and summary of energy management in selected building designs, with recommendations for the development of improved thermal efficiency buildings and energy management practices.

For more information about this research, please contact Dr Peter Osman: Peter.Osman@csiro.au.

Transport futures: This project studied how transport systems are organised in remote Australia and looked at several alternative strategies and technical innovations to improve transport for remote communities and social and business enterprises in the next 50 years.

The project provided an evidence-based platform to assess the current transport system of remote Australia. Huge variations were identified and discussed in terms of strengths (including highly resilient / adaptable transport practices) and weaknesses (transport access inequalities). These findings are being used to inform and influence policymakers, industry stakeholders and community members.

The project conducted a cost–benefit analysis to measure the current and projected situation; a survey to identify transport opportunities and challenges; qualitative interviews to understand future alternatives; and transport simulations to explore a range of future transport scenarios.

For more information about this research, please contact Dr Bruno Spandonide: spandonide@gmail.com.

Research results from these areas of the Climate Change Adaptation and Energy Futures project were disseminated widely, with the project publishing 11 journal papers, presenting at 11 conferences and creating and delivering 35 other end-user publications and presentations.

See also www.climatechangeinaustralia.gov.au for extensive information and tools.

For more information about the Climate Change Adaptation and Energy Futures project, please contact Dr Kevin Williams at kevin.williams@menzies.edu.au.