Toward sustainable energy usage in the power generation and construction sectors¬タヤa case study of Australia

a r t i c l e i n f o To be sustainable in energy usage in the future, there are two aspects that need to be considered: the energy supply or generation and the consumption side, including the closely linked construction and building industries which consume a large amount of energy. Essential requirements for energy efficiency are to produce less greenhouse gas emissions and to rely more on renewable energy sources for future sustainability. Policies for mitiga-tion of the environment impact are having effects on both the supply and demand. While the former requires more alternate sources in smart grids and improved technologies for carbon capture and storage, the latter involves the reduction of energy wastes and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as prerequisites to green certification within the construction and building sector. Thus, access to sustainable, affordable, and secure energy is one of the major global strategic priorities to maintain and improve public health, sustain economic growth, and mitigate the effects of climate change. Toward this goal, many countries, including Australia, are investing in clean, efficient, reliable energy systems for a prosperous and environmentally sustainable future. Hence, exploring various options to ensure energy security by diversification of energy sources is an important step in meeting the future requirements and delivering clean energy to different industry sectors. This paper discusses options to manage the use of energy sources in the power generation and construction industries. Options for mitigation of environmental impact and for achievement of sustainable energy usage, such as building design with BIM, are discussed. As economies and populations are predicted to grow, the world demand for energy will increase. The US Energy Information Administration's (EIA's) " International Energy Outlook 2014 " (IEO2014) [1] reported that world energy consumption will grow by 56% between 2010 and 2040. Fossil fuels will continue to supply nearly 80% of world energy use through 2040. Ensuring the availability of clean, abundant, and affordable energy will play a key role in developing economic prosperity and enhanced environmental quality. It is now well accepted that emissions from fossil fuels combustion should be limited because of their contribution to local and regional pollution as well as their contribution to global climate change [2]. Most of power generation and other energy-intensive industries rely on coal, a key source of energy. However, moving toward a low-carbon economy requires the existence of such industries that are capable of …