Week 4-2 Solar Energy in Australia

As someone who lived in Myanmar and Hong Kong, I was surprised by Australians' initiative to sustainable energy when I first arrived in Sydney. My first project in architectural degree was assessing a friend's house, which not only had solar panels but also a rainwater collection. Australia continues to get more sun as more colours were incorporated into heat maps while the solar systems' prices continually drop.

Approximately 5% of households had solar thermal water system and/or rooftop solar photovoltaic system. By 2014, there was about 4 times increase; 19% of households had solar systems and 90% of Australian households were considering to shift to solar power. Out of the 19%, it was primarily solar photovoltaic (15%) and the leftover 5% was solar water heaters. By states and territories, 24% of South Australian households used solar electricity, followed by 20% of Queensland, 16% of Western Australia, 10% of New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory, 7% of Tasmania and lastly, 6% of Northern Territory.

The statics are pretty amazing since according to the trend, almost every house in Australia will have a solar system in a few years. I admire Australian's initiative in making use of the energy that they have access to. Therefore, it is important and easiest for a country to adapt to appropriate resources available to them in the area for its sustainable approach to have an eventual widespread implementation.

Resources
http://www.treehugger.com/renewable-energy/australia-show-the-way-1-in-5-households-solar-system.html