301003 Sustainable Systems

Question:

This section requires you to write a report as a way of answering questions. Please consider the following scenario based on your ID. N is the last digit of your ID.

A house has the following characteristics:

Number of bedrooms = ID ending with 0-3, 3 bedrooms; ID ending with 4-6, 4 bedrooms; ID ending with 7-9, 5 bedrooms.

No of people = (2 + whole number of (N/2)) (both husband and wife are working from 9 AM to 4 PM and each travels separately by car on average 50 km; kids walk to school between 9 AM and 3 PM but all reaches home at around 5 PM).

For other uses, car travels 150 km per week on average. Car uses the petrol at 8 + N*0.4 Km/L. The average cost for petrol is $1.2/L

Cook top and hot water uses LPG gas. Energy obtained from gas use is around 90+N*5 MJ/day and the gas utility bills every three months as follows:  

Find from internet appropriate pricing of electricity charges and list as part of the report. Mark counted with other parts.

Every person on average uses 4 hr of lighting in the house. Assume all the lights are incandescent (70 W) for odd N values; and 50% incandescent (70 W) + 50% of tube bulb (40 W) for even N values.

Task:

Assume the house has some insulation (can tolerate 22±3 ^oC, has single-layered glass window) for N values 0-4; and good insulation (can tolerate 22±7 ^oC has single layered glass window) for N values 5-9. Air conditioner (A/C) runs when temperature is above or below the tolerable temperature. Use typical monthly temperature as shown in Figure 1. A/C only works when all the people are in the home, i.e from 6 PM to 12 AM on weekdays and anytime between 6 AM and 12 AM during weekends depending on the temperature. Assume monthly average high temperature (Tmax, average)+(15+N*2)% of Tmax,average is valid for day time temperature for the month and ½*(monthly average high + monthly average low) is valid between 6 PM and 12 AM. A/C consumes 2500 +200*N W when it runs. Chose appropriate approximations and calculation procedure as needed.

 Figure 1: Average monthly temperature in Parramatta, Bureau of Meteorology, Australia, 2020

1. Problem definition and context as an introduction
   
   
2. Literature summary on the status of Australian energy use and carbon emission:
   
   Search the internet to look for sources of energy, per capita energy use and per capita carbon emission in Australia and worldwide and write a summary (key figures and tables can be included with the text). Your summary should demonstrate the position of Australia with respect to other countries and the future outlook in terms of sources, key energy users, energy use, carbon emission and climate change. Read about Doha amendment to Kyoto protocol, Paris agreement to which Australia has ratified and indicate how Australia could meet it and what are the impediments. When it comes to a household what percentage of per capita values of energy and carbon emission is expected.
   
   
3. What organisations (regulatory and/or voluntary) in Australia promote energy efficiency in general and in which way for products you use in the chosen place? State selection guide: NSW (ID ending in 0 or 1), SA (ID ending in 2 or 3), VIC (ID ending in 4 or 5), QLD (ID ending in 6 or 7), WA (8 or 9).   (2%)
   
   
4. Analysis of household: Summarise all the energy consuming devices including car and annual energy consumption (in KWh) and CO₂ emission (metric ton - CO₂ equivalent) for your case in a Table. Show all calculations.
   
   
5. Identify all relevant information regarding possible alternatives and identify opportunities to reduce energy consumption (especially CO2 emission and cost)
   
   
6. Perform the cost benefit analysis (real payback period with 5% per annum interest) for two improvement options. Can use excel but a sample calculation sheet should be given.
   
   
7. Conclude the best option of the two in (g). Provide reasoning (i.e., in terms of energy efficiency, cost, environmental benefit, % reduction in per-capita CO₂ emission and energy consumption)