Carbon Reduction
Our everyday activities such as driving or using electricity generate greenhouse gases, the most common being Carbon Dioxide. Australia has one of the highest per capita greenhouse gas production rates in the world.
Read more about Lane Cove River Tourist Park being carbon neutral, how you can help while you are here and what you can do when you get home.
Carbon Neutral
Since 2005, the park has been auditing and monitoring its carbon footprint. In 2007, the park was able to claim carbon neutral status. It was certified in 2008/09 under the Climate Action Program through Sustainability Australia.
To gain carbon neutral status the park setout to reduce energy consumption, switch to 100% accredited Green Energy, installed solar stations to offset emissions it could not otherwise offset, and embarked on an ambitious tree planting prgram as part of its bush regeneration strategy.
The park assessed carbon from all sources including; LPG, Electricity and Gas from fridges and air conditioners as well as vehicle emissions.
Carbon Reduction Initiatives
Solar Photovoltaic Panels
The park has a number of pv stations at different locations. The PV array on the top of our office generates over 2KWh, whilst the PV array on the works depot roof does 1KWh. Our latest array of 10KWh is located on the unpowered camground embankment.
Solar Hot Water
The park has a range of solar hot water heaters scattered throughout the park on differnt roof tops. The most visible is the large solar hot water at amenity 4.
ARK
An innovative product designed to regulate the voltage through the park. The ARK has reduced our electricity consumption by 10% since installation.
Energy Saving Lighting, Appliances, and Solar Powered Battery Chargers
All of our old incandescent light stock was replaced with new energy savers. We have changed over 3,000 light globes! We are also rolling out a minimum five star energy rated appliances in our cabins. Air conditioners and refrigerators are all being upgraded. Our gas BBQ igniters are all powered by solar with a battery backup.
Electric Vehicles
Charged by solar, our fleet of electric vehicles used by housekeeping and maintenance have reduced our on site vehicle emissions. We have literally taken 2 cars off the road!
Accredited Green Energy
100% of the grid electricty supply to the park is from green sources. You can do your bit by switching to green, read below.
The Green House Effect
The natural greenhouse effect is the reason we are able to live on Earth. Greenhouse gases trap heat that enters through the atmosphere, enabling a suitable temperature for us to live. The main greenhouse gas is Carbon Dioxide – also called CO2. However, human activities such as burning fossil fuels and land clearing are increasing the levels of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. As a result, more heat is being trapped in our atmosphere resulting in increased temperatures worldwide – This is called Global Warming.
If our current levels of greenhouse gas emissions remain constant, temperatures worldwide are likely to increase by 5.8oC and sea levels will rise by up to 88cm by 2100!
If the current levels of emission increase, these changes will be further accelerated!
FACT: Australia has one of the highest per capita greenhouse gas emissions in the world!
Global warming will affect not only temperature and sea levels, it will also, for example, reduce crop yields, decrease fresh water availability, increase the spread of diseases such as malaria and dengue fever, increase damaging weather events such as storms and flooding and threaten species of flora and fauna due to habitat changes from increasing temperatures and different rainfall patterns.
Greenhouse gas accumulation and global warming is not something we can ignore!
How can you help?
There are many ways you can contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Participating in a Carbon Offset Package such as the one offered here at Lane Cove River Tourist Park, is a great place to start. This allows you, through a contribution, to negate your emissions from your stay at the Tourist Park. Our projects save emissions by creating clean energy credits, which neutralise the CO2 from your electricity use. Credits are spent on Solar Energy and investment in 100% Green Energy from Our Energy Company, as well as planting 500 trees per year.
Your price for carbon is very high
YES, we have set a very high price on our carbon emmissions. That is because in our offset scheme we take into consideration; road/vehicle travel, air travel, and CO2 emissions you produce whilst you are visiting Sydney, we have also made some allowance for a contribution factor to the very high cost of Accredited Green Power. You need to consider that our scheme is totally voluntary, and we do not profit from your contributions on the NSW carbon market. Your contribution is directly invested in our solar program. So far, offset contributions have enabled us to purchase four additional solar panels.
Order your off-set before you arrive, click here. |
What about when you get home?
To reduce your household emissions you can: Convert existing light globes to energy efficient light globes, wash your clothes in cold water (this uses 20 times less energy than washing inhot water), purchase appliances with a high energy rating (more stars means the appliance is cheaper to run and contributes fewer greenhouse gas emissions than an appliance with fewer stars), source “green energy” from your energy provider, plant native trees in your garden, dry your clothes on a clothesline in the sun and invest in a solar water heater.
Click here to learn more about 100% GREEN POWER Click here to visit our friends at EASY BEING GREENHere's what else we are doing:
100 trees per year project. Light globes are energy savers. Investing in green energy Running on 100% accredited green power Electric works vehicle that reduces emissions from carbon. Onsite solar stations.
Environmental Initiatives. Info on Ecotourism Carbon Reduction Water Management Habitat Projects : Carbon Reduction
