How many tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions does the average household electricity account for?

Our data shows that the average Australian household consumes about five megawatt hours (MWh) of electricity per year and the average emissions intensity of that electricity is around one tonne of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2e) per MWh. On this basis, the average Australian household’s electricity usage would account for five t CO2-e each year. 

 

There is no single formula to calculate exactly how much carbon is absorbed by trees over their lifetime. It varies depending on the species and age of the tree, region it is grown, rainfall, and many other factors. 

 

Based on a Technical Report from the South Australian Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources1, Trees For Life Pty Inc. calculates that five trees will sequester around one t CO2-e over thirty years, based on their tree plantings in South Australia at a density of 1000 trees per hectare at an annual carbon sequestration rate of 6.67CO2per hectare. Source: https://www.treesforlife.org.au/carbon/carbon-facts

 

Therefore, you would need to plant around 25 trees each year and maintain them for at least 30 years to offset an average household’s annual electricity emissions.  Or you could opt to Go Neutral today.

 

1. Carbon Sequestration from Revegetation: SA Agricultural Regions: Trevor J. Hobbs, Craig R. Neumann, Merv Tucker and Katelyn T. Ryan 2013