Blue Mountains News

The Award recognised Council’s use of data to identify challenges and create solutions towards sustainability.

Council used the Resilient Sydney emissions dashboard to inform its Community Towards Net Zero Plan, adopted in June 2024.

The Environmental Sustainability Platform (ESP) analyses emissions data from electricity, gas, waste and transport– as well as solar power and electric vehicle uptake – to show where to make the biggest carbon reduction wins.

“With limited time and resources, being a part of Resilient Sydney and having access Blue Mountains specific emissions data is critical to that success,” Blue Mountains Mayor Mark Greenhill said.

“The data can even drill down to suburb specific emissions sources, showing where electricity use is concentrated, or where solar power uptake is particularly high or low.

In the Blue Mountains, the data revealed that the sector generating the highest emissions is residential detached dwellings, and the source generating the most emissions is transport.

“This has been invaluable in helping us make effective decisions, allowing us to identify the changes with the biggest impact. We developed the Community Towards Net Zero Plan to collaborate with the community to achieve a zero emissions future.

“This information is also important from an economic perspective. As one of the sunniest and windiest continents on earth, Australia should be leading the charge on renewables.

“The uptake of renewables makes, not only because of the emissions reduction, but because to make a long-term dent in household electricity bills, and during a cost-of-living crisis this can’t be underestimated.”

The data also shows that while fossil fuel run equipment is sometimes slightly cheaper to buy, it is more expensive to operate than electric and this means electric is often more cost-effective over time.

With the national target of 82 per cent renewable energy powering the electricity grid by 2030, even homes that don’t have their own solar panels or battery will be well placed to benefit from the switch to renewables by electrifying their home.

Council’s Action on Climate Change webpages share tips on how to take action on climate change at home and reduce household bills. These range from free and low-cost ideas to more expensive upgrades.