Most of the energy we use - from heating and lighting to transport, industry and communications - relies on burning fossil fuels such as gas, oil and coal. This accounts for the majority of Australia’s annual greenhouse gas emissions.

If we want to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions, we must focus on the amount of energy we use. Unless we act now to cut our emissions, our climate will continue to change.
                                                              
Energy efficiency is a cost-effective way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, as it also helps households, businesses and governments save money on energy bills. Energy efficiency improvements can result in cost savings of 20 to 50%.
(Extract from http://www.greenhouse.vic.gov.au)

Energy
http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/inventory/index.html

Residential
Energy in the residential sector is mainly used for space heating and cooling, and water heating.
Energy use in the residential sector is predicted to grow by 50% over the next 25 years. This is driven by the trend of increased appliance use and appliances which use 'standby' power. While appliances only account for 10-15% of energy consumed in Australian homes, they generate 40% of household greenhouse pollution as most appliances use electricity rather than gas.
http://www.greenhouse.gov.au/gwci/households.html

Commercial
Energy in the commercial sector is mainly used for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), lighting and water heating. Energy consumption is growing more rapidly in the commercial sector than any other sector with a growth rate of 3.7% per annum. Electricity is the dominant energy source used in the commercial sector.

Industrial
Energy consumption in the industrial sector is growing by approximately 1.2% per annum, and is projected to increase by over 36% in the next 25 years. Natural gas is the dominant energy source used in industrial sector. Industrial energy use is dominated by the manufacturing sector and the subsectors of metal products, petrochemicals, and wood and paper.
(Extracted from http://www.sustainability.vic.gov.au)

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