Brisbane Carbon Challenge

Find answers to your most frequently asked questions here.

Frequently Asked Questions

General
Brisbane Carbon Challenge household calculator
Results and actions
Home energy use
Transport
Waste
Personalised low-carbon action plan
Dashboard and login
Personal information
Champion households

General

What is the Brisbane Carbon Challenge?

The Brisbane Carbon Challenge is a Brisbane City Council initiative delivered in partnership with Brisbane Sustainability Agency to inspire action in line with our target to reduce household carbon emissions to six tonnes on average by 2031.

The initiative includes:

  • an online calculator that can be used to estimate your household carbon footprint and create a personalised low-carbon action plan
  • case studies showing how 18 champion households with different homes, lifestyles and budgets reduced their emissions by 55% on average over a year, while saving money
  • tips to support Brisbane residents taking action to reduce their household carbon emissions and save on bills.
Why should I complete the Brisbane Carbon Challenge? What’s in it for me?

Reducing your household carbon footprint will help make Brisbane a low-carbon and climate-resilient city and can help you save money at the same time.

By taking the Brisbane Carbon Challenge, you will learn about the carbon emissions created as a result of your household’s transport, home energy use and waste and create a personalised low-carbon action plan to reduce your emissions and save on bills.

What are carbon emissions?

When we talk about carbon emissions, we’re referring to greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane.

Many of our day to day activities, like driving petrol-fuelled cars, using electricity generated from coal or gas, or disposing of rubbish in landfill add carbon emissions to the atmosphere.

Why is it important to reduce household carbon emissions? 

Carbon emissions trap heat in the atmosphere, causing global temperatures to rise and the global climate to change. The best way to take climate action is to reduce our carbon emissions. 

Households are a major contributor to carbon emissions and account for around one quarter of Brisbane’s total carbon footprint.

What can I do to reduce my household’s carbon emissions? 

There are many ways to reduce your household carbon footprint, from simple things, like turning appliances off at the wall, to bigger commitments, like installing a solar power system.

There are actions to suit all homes, lifestyles and budgets. And many might also be better for your health, as well as save you money! You can create a personalised low-carbon action plan by taking Brisbane Carbon Challenge.

For tips on how to reduce your household’s carbon footprint check out the Brisbane Carbon Challenge Resources.

What is the 6 tonne target?

Brisbane City Council has a target to reduce household carbon emissions from home energy use, transport and waste to 6 tonnes on average by 2031. This is equivalent to halving household emissions.

Why doesn’t the 6 tonne target include emission sources like food and air travel?

Brisbane City Council’s household carbon target focuses on emission sources that are measurable and able to be influenced by the household, Council or operators of local services.

While food and air travel can make a substantial contribution to a household’s carbon footprint, they can be difficult to measure and influence beyond avoiding the emissions altogether.

Brisbane City Council encourages residents to consider the carbon emissions occurring as a result of their food choices, air travel and other purchasing decisions and choose low emissions options, where possible. Where emissions are difficult to avoid, households may consider offsetting their carbon footprint through the purchase of carbon neutral products or services or carbon offsets.

For more information on buying carbon neutral and offsetting, visit the Australian Government’s Climate Active website.

What is the average carbon footprint of a Brisbane household? 

Brisbane City Council estimates that Brisbane households currently emit around 11.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (tCO2-e) per year on average. 

This includes emissions from home energy use, transport by private vehicle or the city’s public transport networks and the disposal of waste generated within the household.

11.5tCO2-e is equivalent to the emissions produced by four passenger cars in a year or stored by three-quarters of a hectare of plantation forest after 4 years of growth.

What are the main sources of household carbon emissions in Brisbane?

Brisbane City Council has a target to reduce household carbon emissions from home energy use, transport and waste.

Transport currently accounts for around 48 per cent of household carbon emissions in Brisbane, with home energy use and waste making up 47 per cent and 5 per cent respectively. 

Transport emissions are due to private vehicle and public transport use. Home energy use emissions are largely the result of electricity use, with small contributions from natural gas and LPG use, where these are used within the household. Waste emissions are mainly due to landfill disposal of organic waste, including food, garden and paper waste.

How are Brisbane’s average household carbon emissions measured?

Brisbane’s household carbon emissions have been estimated in line with the Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventories (GPC), the international standard for measuring and reporting on community greenhouse gas emissions. 

Emissions are generally estimated using activity data, like how much electricity or fuel is used in homes or private vehicles, and standard factors for converting this into carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e). For example, for every kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity used in a home in Queensland, an estimated 930 grams of CO2-e emissions are released to the atmosphere.

The emission factors used to estimate household carbon emissions are drawn from a range of published sources, including the Australian Government’s National Greenhouse Accounts Factors. Some factors may also be drawn from unpublished sources, such as Council’s own knowledge about the emissions intensity of the public transport fleet and Rochedale landfill.

Where can I find out more information about what Brisbane City Council is doing to make Brisbane a low carbon city?

To find out more about what Brisbane City Council is doing on climate change, visit Council’s website at www.brisbane.qld.gov.au and search for ‘climate action.’

Brisbane Carbon Challenge household calculator

Who can use the Brisbane Carbon Challenge calculator?

Anyone can use the Brisbane Carbon Challenge calculator, but it has been specifically developed for residents that live in the city of Brisbane, Australia.

How is the Brisbane Carbon Challenge calculator different to other carbon calculators?

The methods and data used in the Brisbane Carbon Challenge calculator are relevant to Brisbane residents and let you see how your household is tracking towards Brisbane City Council’s target to reduce household carbon emissions to six tonnes on average each year.

What is included in the carbon footprint estimate? Are there any exclusions and why?

The carbon footprint estimate includes emissions from electricity, natural gas and LPG use around your home, transport in household vehicles or by household members on public transport networks and the disposal of organic waste generated within the household. It does not include emissions from other fuel use, air travel, recycling of household waste, or the consumption of other goods and services, including food.

Other fuel use and recycling are excluded as these emission sources are generally very small in relation to the included sources and are not expected to materially impact the footprint estimate.

While emissions from air travel and the consumption of goods and services, including food, may be substantial, these can be difficult to measure and influence beyond avoiding the emissions altogether.

Brisbane City Council encourages residents to consider the carbon emissions occurring as a result of their food choices, air travel and other purchasing decisions and choose low emissions options, where possible. Where emissions are difficult to avoid, households may consider offsetting their carbon footprint through the purchase of carbon neutral products or services or carbon offsets.

For more information on buying carbon neutral and offsetting, visit the Australian Government’s Climate Active website.

Do I get credit in the calculator for actions I take to reduce my household carbon emissions?

If you are taking action to reduce your household carbon emissions, this will be recognised in your results through a lower footprint estimate.

How does the calculator work? What methods have been used to measure emissions?

You will be asked a series of questions about your household, the types of transport your household uses, how you use energy within your home and how much waste your household produces. The information you provide is then used to estimate your household carbon emissions using standardised emission factors.

The calculator uses emission factors from published sources, including the Australian Government’s National Greenhouse Accounts Factors or specially developed factors for local services and operating conditions. The factors are generally updated on an annual basis.

How accurate is the Brisbane Carbon Challenge calculator?

The calculator estimates your household carbon footprint based on the information you provide. The more detailed information you put in, the more accurate the estimate will be.

For example, if you have a recent electricity bill and can provide your actual electricity use for the billing period, your estimate will be more accurate than if you tell us your postcode and your usage is estimated based on average electricity use in your area.

Where we need to make assumptions to estimate your household carbon emissions, the emissions estimate may be less accurate.

I don’t have an exact answer for each question. Will this affect my result?

It’s okay if you don’t have exact answers for all of the questions. Just provide an estimate or answer the questions to the best of your knowledge.

Remember, however, that the more information you can provide, the more accurate your household carbon footprint estimate will be.

I’m having trouble completing the Brisbane Carbon Challenge calculator. Who can I contact?

If you have any problems completing the Brisbane Carbon Challenge calculator, you can contact Brisbane Sustainability Agency at carbonchallenge@sustainablebrisbane.com.au for assistance.

Results and actions

What time frame does my calculator result represent?

The result represents your household’s estimated carbon footprint over a year.

My result is above the citywide average. What should I do?

Knowing your household’s carbon footprint is an important first step in taking action to reduce it.

If your results are above the citywide average, try some of the recommended actions then come back and re-take the Challenge to see how your emissions have changed. Your previous results are saved and you will be able to compare your results over time.

With big differences in household circumstances, it won’t be practical for all of us to achieve six tonnes. But if we work together and each take a few small steps to reduce our emissions, we can help bring down the citywide average and make Brisbane a low-carbon and climate-resilient city.

My result is below the citywide average. What should I do?

Everything you do to reduce your footprint helps bring us closer to our target to halve household carbon emissions from home energy, transport and waste by 2031.

If your household’s carbon footprint is below the citywide average, you’re on the right track, but there may still be actions you can take. Some actions might also make a big difference to your household bills.

Create a personalised low-carbon action plan and try some of the actions recommend for your household. When you’re ready, come back and re-take the footprint calculator to see how your emissions have changed. Your previous results are saved in your dashboard and you’ll be able to compare your results over time.

My result is below the 6 tonne target. What should I do?

Well done, everything you’re doing to lower your carbon footprint is helping to bring us closer to our citywide target to halve household emissions from home energy, transport and waste by 2031.

Even if your emissions are already low, actions to reduce your home energy use and changes to your transport and waste habits can have a big impact on bills. 

Keep up the good work by creating a personalised low-carbon action plan and trying new actions or sharing the Brisbane Carbon Challenge with your family and friends.

Remember to come back and re-take the footprint calculator after making a change to see the difference it has made to your emissions. Your previous results are saved in your dashboard and you’ll be able to compare your results over time.

What other actions can I take to reduce my household’s carbon footprint?

For more tips on how to reduce your household’s carbon footprint check out the Brisbane Carbon Challenge Resources and read our champion household case studies for inspiration.

If I have questions about my Brisbane Carbon Challenge calculator results and actions, who can I contact?

The team at Brisbane Sustainability Agency can help with any questions you may have about your Brisbane Carbon Challenge calculator results and recommended actions. You can contact them at carbonchallenge@sustainablebrisbane.com.au.

Home energy use

What is GreenPower?

GreenPower is an accreditation program for renewable energy products sold by electricity retailers.

GreenPower products represent electricity generated in Australia from renewable energy sources and provide a convenient and cost-effective way for smaller electricity consumers, such as households and small businesses, to access renewable energy markets. To find out more, visit the GreenPower website or contact your electricity provider.

When you purchase GreenPower for your home, the Brisbane Carbon Challenge calculator ascribes zero emissions to that electricity use as it comes from a renewable energy source.

What about my solar electricity exports? I can’t see how these have been taken into account in my carbon footprint.

If you have a solar power system and export some of the electricity it produces to the grid, this won’t be included in your carbon footprint estimate. This is because everyone benefits from renewable energy fed into the grid, through a lower grid emissions intensity.

To ensure that the electricity you consume directly from your solar power system is included in your emissions estimate, you will need to enter actual bill data in the Brisbane Carbon Challenge calculator. Your grid consumption will be lower than it would have been without your solar system, resulting in a reduced carbon footprint.

My electricity or gas is carbon neutral. I can’t see how this has been taken into account in my carbon footprint.

Some electricity and gas retailers now offer carbon neutral products. This means that the carbon emissions associated with the product have been offset through investments in projects that reduce or remove emissions from the atmosphere. As a result, the emissions associated with the product are considered equal to zero or ‘neutral’.

While this is a great way to take action on climate change, the Brisbane Carbon Challenge calculator provides an estimate of the emissions occurring from your electricity or gas use before offsetting. This allows you to understand the emissions that are occurring as a result of your home energy use and, where possible, take action to reduce your impact.

Alternatively, if you purchase GreenPower, the Brisbane Carbon Challenge calculator ascribes zero emissions to that electricity use as it comes from a renewable energy source. Learn more about the difference between GreenPower and carbon neutral energy in this article.

Transport

What about the fuel used in my boat and other recreational vehicles? I can’t see how these have been taken into account in my carbon footprint.

The Brisbane Carbon Challenge calculator doesn’t take account of fuel use in boats or other recreational vehicles as this fuel use is small in comparison to on-road transport and resulting emissions are not expected to materially impact the household footprint estimate.

I travel around during the day for work. Should I include this fuel use?

Travel to and from work should be included in the data you enter into the Brisbane Carbon Challenge calculator, but data for any travel you do during the day as part of your work doesn’t need to be included. This should be attributed to your employer, rather than your household.

If you can’t differentiate between work related and other travel, don’t worry, just keep in mind that your transport emissions will be a bit higher than they would have been otherwise.

How can I find out how much fuel my vehicle uses or estimate my vehicle fuel use?

If you usually fill up your vehicle by the same amount, you can refer to your fuel receipts or check the bowser next time you fill up to see how many litres you have used since your last fill. Your receipts will also tell you the fuel type.

Alternatively, if you know your tank size and how often you usually fill up, you could also use this as a guide.

If you don’t have any receipts or don’t know the size of your tank, it might be easiest to use another Brisbane Carbon Challenge calculator option to estimate your vehicle fuel use, such as the amount you usually spend or your vehicle type and average distance travelled in a year.

Waste

I don’t put any food or garden waste in my general waste bin but still have emissions for these waste types. Why?

By keeping organic waste out of your general waste bin, you have considerably reduced your household’s waste related emissions, but some emissions will still occur as a result of composting.

Personalised low-carbon action plan

Who can create a personalised low-carbon action plan?

Anyone can create a personalised low-carbon action plan via the Brisbane Carbon Challenge, but it has been specifically developed for residents that live in the city of Brisbane, Australia.

How do I create my personalised low-carbon action plan?

Creating a personalised low-carbon action plan is the second step in the Brisbane Carbon Challenge. First, you’ll need to use the calculator to estimate your household carbon footprint from home energy, transport and waste.

Once you know where your emissions are coming from, you can create your action plan by taking the home energy, transport and waste quizzes. You’ll find the quizzes on the calculator results page or in your Brisbane Carbon Challenge dashboard.

The action quizzes include some additional questions about your household habits, which will be used together with your footprint results to generate a personalised list of actions suited to your home, lifestyle and budget. To create your action plan, review the recommended actions and make a commitment choosing a time period that suits you best.

After you’ve taken action, use your email address to login to your Brisbane Carbon Challenge dashboard, mark actions as complete and re-take the footprint calculator to see how your emissions have changed.

I’m having trouble completing the action quizzes and creating my personalised low-carbon action plan. Who can I contact?

If you have any problems completing the Brisbane Carbon Challenge action quizzes and creating your personalised low-carbon action plan, you can contact Brisbane Sustainability Agency at carbonchallenge@sustainablebrisbane.com.au for assistance.

What do the categories in the prioritisation guide mean?

At the bottom of each recommended action, you’ll find information about the level of effort and potential emissions reduction, cost savings and upfront costs. This information has been included to help you prioritise which actions to take first and is estimated using some standard assumptions and the information you entered in the footprint calculator and action quizzes.

For more tips on how to implement your recommended actions check out the Brisbane Carbon Challenge Resources  and read our champion household case studies for inspiration.

What happens when I commit to take action?

When creating your personalised low-carbon action plan, you’ll need to set a timeframe for completing your chosen actions.

You can update your commitments at any time, if an action you’ve committed to, or your set timeframe for completing the action, no longer suits your household. However, not completing or postponing actions will slow your progress reducing your household carbon emissions and bills.

After you’ve taken action, use your email address to login to your Brisbane Carbon Challenge dashboard, mark actions as complete and re-take the footprint calculator to see how your emissions have changed.

How can I check my household’s progress after taking action?

After you’ve taken action, use your email address to login to your Brisbane Carbon Challenge dashboard, mark actions as complete and re-take the footprint calculator to see how your emissions have changed.

Dashboard and login

How can I use my Brisbane Carbon Challenge dashboard to track my household’s progress?

Login to your Brisbane Carbon Challenge dashboard to view past results, take the action quizzes, review your action plan, mark actions as complete and re-take the footprint calculator to see how your emissions have changed.

How do I login to the Brisbane Carbon Challenge dashboard?

If you’ve already taken the Brisbane Carbon Challenge, you can login using your email address and the password you created. If you didn’t receive an email with a link to set up your password, please contact Brisbane Sustainability Agency at carbonchallenge@sustainablebrisbane.com.au.

What happens if I’ve forgotten my login password?

If you’ve forgotten your login password, select ‘I’ve forgotten my password’ on the calculator login page to be receive a password reset email.

I’m having trouble logging into my Brisbane Carbon Challenge dashboard. Who can I contact?

If you’re having an issue logging in to your Brisbane Carbon Challenge dashboard, please contact Brisbane Sustainability Agency for assistance at carbonchallenge@sustainablebrisbane.com.au.

Personal information

What happens to the personal information I enter into the Brisbane Carbon Challenge calculator and action quizzes?

The Brisbane Carbon Challenge calculator and action plan are being hosted by Brisbane Sustainability Agency on behalf of Brisbane City Council.

Data captured in the calculator and action plan will only be used to improve the tool’s functionality and to better understand carbon emissions produced by Brisbane households. All captured data will be kept private and treated in accordance with Brisbane Sustainability Agency’s privacy policy.

Champion households

Who are the Brisbane Carbon Challenge champion households?

Eighteen champion households were selected to demonstrate how Brisbane households with different homes, lifestyles and budgets can halve their carbon emissions in one year and save money at the same time. The champion households are representative of the wider Brisbane population and include families, couples, single-person households and sharers. They live across the city in different types of homes and include both renters and owners.

What were the requirements for becoming a champion household?

The champion households needed to live in the Brisbane Local Government Area and be able to commit to participating in the program for 12 months, including:

  • participating in five program meetings, including an introductory workshop and quarterly coaching sessions with Brisbane Sustainability Agency
  • engaging with Brisbane Sustainability Agency to identify opportunities to reduce carbon emissions and household bills, with a focus on home energy use, transport and waste 
  • implementing an action plan outlining strategies to achieve a 50% reduction in household carbon emissions
  • capturing and providing data and information to the Brisbane Sustainable Agency to help monitor the emission and cost savings achieved – this included providing copies of bills and receipts and completing household activity diaries
  • providing monthly progress updates to the Brisbane Sustainable Agency describing the actions taken during the month and sharing photos and videos documenting the household’s experiences.
What did champion households receive?

The champion households received information, tools and incentives valued at up to $4,500 and one-on-one coaching to help reduce their carbon footprint over 12 months. This included:

  • a detailed household carbon footprint assessment identifying sources of emissions and opportunities for reductions
  • a welcome kit containing tools and resources to get started on their Brisbane Carbon Challenge journey
  • installation of a home energy monitoring system providing real-time data on their home energy use, where practical, valued at up to $2,000 per household
  • a tailored incentive package valued at up to $2,500 per household to assist in implementing their emission reduction action plan
  • access to exclusive offers from local businesses providing sustainable products and services
  • opportunities to win prizes by participating in program challenges and meeting and exceeding their emission reduction action plan commitments.
What kind of incentives were provided?

All champion households received a package of incentives valued at up to $2,500 tailored to the emission reduction opportunities identified in the one-on-one coaching sessions and included in their action plan.

Examples of incentives that were provided include free or discounted public transport, energy-efficient appliances or lighting, GreenPower, green waste recycling service or home compost system or worm farm.

Where are champion households’ results shared?

Brisbane City Council and Brisbane Sustainability Agency shared the champion households’ stories through blog posts, social media posts and e-newsletter articles. You can also read their profiles and case studies on the Brisbane Sustainability Agency website.

How can I become a champion household?

The champion household program has come to an end and is no longer recruiting new households. However, you’re encouraged to participate in the Brisbane Carbon Challenge by:

  • using the calculator to estimate your household carbon footprint and understand where your emissions are coming from
  • creating a personalised low-carbon action plan suited to your home, lifestyle and budget
  • accessing the online resources
  • taking action to reduce your household emissions and bills.

After you’ve taken action, you can use your email address to login to your Brisbane Carbon Challenge dashboard, mark actions as complete and re-take the footprint calculator to see how your emissions have changed.

We’d love to hear about your progress. You can share updates on social media and tag us, or email carbonchallenge@sustainablebrisbane.com.au.

I live in a rental property. Do the champion household results still apply to me?

Yes, the champion households include renters.

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