A sustainable lifestyle focuses on minimizing environmental impact and promoting long-term well-being. This can include using renewable energy, reducing waste, supporting local farming, and choosing eco-friendly products.
So, how does sustainability meet the needs of the environment? In Australia, here are some ways to live more sustainably:
- Use public transport or ride a bike instead of driving.
- Choose energy-saving appliances and light bulbs.
- Eat less meat and more plant-based foods.
- Support local farmers and buy organic produce.
- Reduce waste by recycling, composting, and avoiding single-use items.
Making small changes in our daily lives can help create a more sustainable future for Australia and the world.
Remember, addressing the climate emergency requires action from everyone—individuals, households, communities, businesses, and government authorities.
What are Some Sustainable Practices?
Individuals and communities can help the environment and support long-term well-being in many ways.
Here are a few examples:
- Save water by taking shorter showers and fixing leaks.
- Install solar panels or use renewable energy sources.
- Support sustainable fisheries and avoid eating overfished species.
- Plant native trees and shrubs to help local ecosystems.
- Use eco-friendly cleaning products and personal care items.
- Reduce food waste by planning meals and using leftovers.
These simple actions can significantly improve our lives and the planet’s health. Start with the ones that seem easiest or most interesting to you. Becoming sustainable is essential and something we all need to work on.
Living sustainably in Australia means making informed choices that benefit everyone and the planet. Making conscious choices daily can help create a better world for future generations.
What is Environmental Sustainability?
According to the U.N. Environment Program, environmental sustainability means making choices that ensure future generations can live as well as or better than we do now. It aims to improve human life quality without straining the earth’s ecosystems.
Environmental sustainability is about balancing our consumer culture and the living world. We can achieve this by using natural resources wisely and not depleting them unnecessarily.
It encourages people to live in a way that doesn’t harm natural resources, helping to maintain ecological balance for today’s and future generations.
This idea aligns with the United Nation’s definition of sustainability: “Meeting the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.”
While definitions may vary, the core message is clear: We currently use more resources than the planet can provide, and we need to change our ways to achieve environmental sustainability.
How does Environmental Sustainability Work?
The Three Pillars of Sustainability:
Social
The social pillar focuses on ensuring fair access to resources and opportunities for everyone in society.
Everyone needs to participate in a healthy society. Key topics include environmental justice, human health, participation, education, resource security, and sustainable communities.
Economic
This pillar supports economic growth and financial stability without harming social, environmental, and cultural values. Important topics include jobs, incentives, supply and demand, natural resource accounting, and costs.
Environmental
The environmental pillar is about keeping the natural environment healthy, protected, and restored if needed. Key factors include ecosystem services, green engineering and chemistry, air quality, water quality, stressors, and resource integrity.
Although achieving these goals can be challenging, many cities worldwide are already working towards environmental sustainability. You can learn more by reading the blog, 3 Pillars of Sustainability: Why Are They Important?
What are the Benefits of Environmental Sustainability?
For the environment:
- Protects ecosystems
- Preserves nature
- Saves endangered species
- Reduces city pollution, leading to better respiratory health
- Helps stop or reverse global warming
- Prevents the creation of massive landfills that take centuries to decompose
For businesses:
- Lowers energy usage and saves money
- Reduces waste, saving money and appealing to eco-conscious customers
- Positions the business as a preferred choice for environmentally aware customers
- May qualify for incentives and cost savings in certain areas
- Enhances brand image
- Attracts and retains better-quality investors, employees, and shareholders
- Provides peace of mind knowing the business is not harming the planet for future generations
Why is Sustainability Important?
Sustainability is crucial for preserving our planet and natural resources like water and air. By adopting sustainable lifestyles, we can reduce pollution and protect habitats for plants and animals.
Currently, we need to live more sustainably. We use more natural resources and energy than the planet can provide, and we depend on limited fossil fuels for heat, electricity, and transportation.
Furthermore, we cut down forests that support wildlife, absorb carbon, deplete soil through intensive farming, and pollute the air, water, and land. Our greenhouse gas emissions are causing the planet to heat up, potentially making it uninhabitable.
To survive, we must balance our consumption with what the planet can produce while allowing human societies to thrive. This means supporting human development while protecting the natural world.
Sustainability involves practices like green technology and eco-friendly supply chains in businesses and government policies.
When these entities adopt sustainable practices, it encourages individuals and communities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fossil fuel use, leading to a better quality of life for everyone.
What are the Issues of Environmental Sustainability?
While environmental sustainability is beneficial for global health, there are challenges to achieving it.
Population Growth and Consumption: Rapid population growth and high consumption levels, especially among the wealthy, are major social barriers to sustainability. However, achieving sustainability will be easier with a significant change in global behavior.
Lack of Awareness and Education: Many people need to be made aware of sustainability issues, and there needs to be more education on the topic.
Limited Government and Civil Society Interaction: There needs to be better cooperation between society and the government.
Inadequate Incentives: The private sector needs more incentives to promote sustainable development.
Economic Focus: Economists note that sustainable development often emphasizes economic growth over people’s health and rights.
For global environmental sustainability to work, our perspective must change to prioritize the environment over the economy. This shift is complex and will take many years to achieve.
Despite these obstacles, we should strive for sustainability. And sustainability reporting can help increase it! While thinking sustainably can seem overwhelming, many small, manageable changes can make a big difference.
How Sustainability Meets the Needs of the Environment?
Resource Conservation
Efficient Use of Resources: Sustainability emphasizes using water, energy, and raw materials to reduce waste and prolong resource availability.
Renewable Energy: Transitioning from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources like solar, wind, and hydropower reduces environmental impact and greenhouse gas emissions.
Pollution Reduction
Reducing Emissions: Implementing cleaner technologies and practices helps lower the emission of harmful pollutants into the air, water, and soil.
Waste Management: Promoting recycling, composting, and proper disposal of hazardous waste minimizes environmental contamination.
Ecosystem Protection
Biodiversity Conservation: Protecting natural habitats and endangered species preserves biodiversity, ensuring ecosystems remain resilient and functional.
Sustainable Land Use: Agriculture and forestry practices prevent land degradation and deforestation, maintaining ecosystem health.
Climate Change Mitigation
Carbon Footprint Reduction: Efforts to reduce carbon footprints through energy efficiency, reforestation, and carbon offset programs help mitigate climate change impacts.
Adaptation Strategies: Developing strategies to adapt to climate changes, such as building flood defenses and improving water management, ensures environmental resilience.
Circular Economy
Product Life Extension: Designing products for longevity, reuse, and recycling reduces the need for new resources and minimizes waste.
Cradle-to-Cradle: Implementing cradle-to-cradle design principles ensures that products are made to be repurposed or biodegraded, closing the loop on resource use.
Policy and Governance
Environmental Regulations: Enforcing laws and regulations that protect natural resources and limit pollution is essential for environmental sustainability.
Corporate Responsibility: Encouraging businesses to adopt sustainable practices and report on their environmental impact promotes greater accountability and transparency.
Community and Education
Public Awareness: Educating the public about sustainable practices encourages individual and collective actions that benefit the environment.
Community Initiatives: Supporting community-based sustainability initiatives, such as urban gardens and local conservation projects, fosters grassroots involvement in environmental protection.
By integrating these strategies, sustainability comprehensively addresses environmental needs, ensuring natural ecosystems can thrive and provide essential services for future generations.
Achieve Environmental Sustainability by Switching to Renewable Energy
Fossil fuels harm our environment, but a safer and more sustainable choice exists.
At Cyanergy, we believe in a future where clean energy is available to everyone, and we want to make that future happen now. Switching to Cyanergy will help increase clean, sustainable energy use and reduce the need for fossil fuels.
Whether you’re an individual or a business, we can help lower your carbon footprint. Get a free solar quote and make the switch today.
Cyanergy is passionate about helping customers do the right thing for the environment, themselves, and their families. We aim to make choosing clean energy easy and affordable.
Do you require help determining whether renewable energy is right for you? Talk to an expert to understand better!
Your Solution Is Just a Click Away
The post How Sustainability Meets The Needs Of The Environment appeared first on Cyanergy.
https://cyanergy.com.au/blog/how-sustainability-meets-the-needs-of-the-environment/
ACORE Statement on Treasury’s Safe Harbor Guidance
Statement from American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) President and CEO Ray Long on Treasury’s Safe Harbor Guidance:
“The American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) is deeply concerned that today’s Treasury guidance on the long-standing ‘beginning of construction’ safe harbor significantly undermines its proven effectiveness, is inconsistent with the law, and creates unnecessary uncertainty for renewable energy development in the United States.
“For over a decade, the safe harbor provisions have served as clear, accountable rules of the road – helping to reduce compliance burdens, foster private investment, and ensure taxpayer protections. These guardrails have been integral to delivering affordable, reliable American clean energy while maintaining transparency and adherence to the rule of law. This was recognized in the One Big Beautiful Act, which codified the safe harbor rules, now changed by this action.
“We need to build more power generation now, and that includes renewable energy. The U.S. will need roughly 118 gigawatts (the equivalent of 12 New York Cities) of new power generation in the next four years to prevent price spikes and potential shortages. Only a limited set of technologies – solar, wind, batteries, and some natural gas – can be built at that scale in that timeframe.”
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ABOUT ACORE
For over 20 years, the American Council on Renewable Energy (ACORE) has been the nation’s leading voice on the issues most essential to clean energy expansion. ACORE unites finance, policy, and technology to accelerate the transition to a clean energy economy. For more information, please visit http://www.acore.org.
Media Contacts:
Stephanie Genco
Senior Vice President, Communications
American Council on Renewable Energy
genco@acore.org
The post ACORE Statement on Treasury’s Safe Harbor Guidance appeared first on ACORE.
https://acore.org/news/acore-statement-on-treasurys-safe-harbor-guidance/
Frequent power outages, unreliable grid connection, sky-high electricity bills, and to top it off, your solar panels are exporting excess energy back to the grid, for a very low feed-in-tariff.
Do all these scenarios sound familiar? Your answer might be yes!
These challenges have become increasingly common across Australia, encouraging more and more homeowners to consider solar battery storage systems.
Why? Because they want to take control of their energy, store surplus solar power, and reduce reliance on the grid.
But then again, people often get perplexed, and their biggest question remains: Should I get a Solar Battery Storage System in Australia?
Well, the answer can be yes in many cases, such as a battery can offer energy independence, ensure better bill savings, and provide peace of mind during unexpected power outages, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.
There are circumstances where a battery may not be necessary or even cost-effective.
In this guide, we’ll break down when it makes sense and all the pros and cons you need to know before making the investment.
In this blog post:
Why You Need Battery Storage Now?
According to data, Australia has surpassed 3.9 million rooftop solar installations, generating more than 37 GW of PV capacity, which is about 20% of electricity in the National Electricity Market in 2024 and early 2025.
Undoubtedly, the country’s strong renewable energy targets, sustainability goals, and the clean‑energy revolution have brought solar power affordability, but the next step in self‑reliance is battery storage.
Data from The Guardian says that 1 in 5 new solar installs in 2025 now includes a home battery, versus 1 in 20 just a few years ago, representing a significant leap in adoption.
Moreover, the recent launch of the Cheaper Home Batteries program has driven this uptake even further, with over 11,500 battery units installed in just the first three weeks from July 1, and around 1,000 installations per day.
Overall, the Australian energy market is evolving rapidly. Average household battery size has climbed to about 17 kWh from 10–12 kWh previously.
Hence, the experts are assuming that 10 GW of new battery capacity will be added over the next five years, competing with Australia’s current coal‑fired capacity.
What Am I Missing Out on Without Solar Batteries?
Honestly? You’re missing out on the best part of going solar.
Renewable sources of energy like solar, hydro, and wind make us feel empowered. For example, solar batteries lower your electricity bills, minimize grid dependency, and also help to reduce your carbon footprint.
But here’s the catch! Without battery storage, you’re only halfway there!
The true magic of solar power isn’t just in producing clean energy; it’s storing and using it efficiently.
A solar battery lets you store excess energy and use it when the sun goes down or the grid goes out. It’s the key to real energy independence. Therefore, ultimately, getting a battery is what makes your solar system truly yours.
Here’s a list of what you’re missing out on without a solar battery:
- Energy Independence
- Maximized Savings
- Better Return on Investment ROI
- Lower Carbon Footprint
- Peace of Mind
Batteries help you to stay powered even during blackouts or grid failures. With energy storage, you don’t have to think of fuel price volatility and supply-demand disruption in the Australian energy market.
Adding a solar battery to your solar PV system allows you to use your own stored energy at night instead of repurchasing it at high rates. It also reduces grid pressure during peak hours, restoring grid stability.
Tired of Australian low feed-in-tariff rates?
Make full use of your solar system by storing excess power at a low price rather than exporting it. Solar panel and battery systems can be a powerful duo for Australian households.
Despite the steady growth in solar, wind, and hydro, fossil fuels still dominate the grid. Fossil fuels supplied approximately 64% of Australia’s total electricity generation, while coal alone accounted for around 45%.
These stats highlight why solar battery storage is so valuable. By storing surplus solar energy, homeowners can reduce their reliance on a grid that still runs on coal and gas.
Enjoy 24/7 uninterrupted power, no matter what’s happening outside.
Besides powering urban homes and businesses, batteries also provide reliable power backup for off-grid living at night when your solar panel can’t produce, ensuring peace of mind.
What Size Solar Battery Do I Need?
While choosing the battery size, it isn’t just about picking the biggest one you can afford; it’s about matching your household’s energy consumption pattern. There is no one-size battery that will make financial or functional sense for everyone.
Nevertheless, if you have an average family of four with no exceptional power demands, you may get by with a 10kWh to 12kWh battery bank as a ready-to-roll backup system.
Well, this is just an estimation, as we have no idea of your power needs, because selecting a battery is highly subjective to the household in question.
With that being said, you can get a good idea of how much power you use on average by analyzing your electric bill copy. Also, keeping track of which appliances you use the most and which ones require the most power will help you.
So, to figure out the ideal battery size for your home, you need to consider three most important things:
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Your Daily Energy Usage
Check your electricity bill for your average daily consumption (in kWh). Most Australian homes use between 15 to 25 kWh per day.
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Your Solar System Output
How much excess solar energy are you generating during the day? That’s the power you’ll store to use later rather than exporting.
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Your Nighttime Power Usage
A battery is most useful at night or during grid outages. So, estimate how much power you typically use after sunset. However, by using a battery, you can also get the freedom of living off the grid.
Sizing Up: The Ideal Home Battery for Aussies!
- For small households and light usage, a 5 kWh battery will be suitable.
- For average Australian households, adding a 10 kWh battery would be enough.
- Large homes and high-energy users will need a 13 to 15 kWh system.
- For full independence, off-grid living, or blackout protection, you may require a larger battery size of 20+ kWh.
Want help calculating your exact needs? Just drop your daily usage and solar output, and we’ll do the math for you! Cyanergy is here to help!
Sizing Up: The Ideal Home Battery for Aussies!
- For small households and light usage, a 5 kWh battery will be suitable.
- For average Australian households, adding a 10 kWh battery would be enough.
- Large homes and high-energy users will need a 13 to 15 kWh system.
- For full independence, off-grid living, or blackout protection, you may require a larger battery size of 20+ kWh.
Want help calculating your exact needs? Just drop your daily usage and solar output, and we’ll do the math for you! Cyanergy is here to help!
How Much Do Solar Batteries Cost?
Previously, you would have to pay between $3000 and $3600 for the battery alone, plus the cost of installation, for every kWh of solar battery storage.
However, you can currently expect to pay between $1200 and $1400 for each kWh of solar battery storage. That is a price reduction of approximately 52%, and things will only get better from here.
Does that imply solar batteries are cheap now? Not really, but the cost is well justified by the pros of having a battery storage system.
Also, while paying for solar batteries, you have to consider many other factors like the type of battery, your solar panel system configurations and compatibility, brand, and installation partner.
These will significantly influence the price range of battery storage.
Is a Solar Battery Worth It | Pros and Cons at a Glance
It’s okay to feel a little overwhelmed while deciding to invest your hard-earned money in a battery.
So, here we’ve listed the pros and cons of having a solar battery to help you in the decision-making process.
Benefits of Solar Battery Storage
- Solar batteries help you become self-sustaining.
- You don’t have to care about power outages anymore
- In the event of any natural disaster, you will still have a power source
- Battery prices are dropping significantly as we speak
- During peak hours, grid electricity prices increase due to high demand; you can avoid paying a high price and use your battery. It’s essentially free energy, as solar generates energy from the sun.
- Reduced carbon footprint as the battery stores energy from a renewable source.
Advantages of battery for the grid and national energy system:
- Batteries support Virtual Power Plants (VPPs). In 2025, consumers get financial bonuses (AUD 250‑400) for joining, plus grid benefits via distributed dispatchable power.
- Grid‑scale batteries like Victoria Big Battery or Hornsdale Power Reserve are increasing system resilience by storing large amounts of renewable energy and reducing blackout risk.
Drawbacks of Solar Battery Storage
- One of the biggest barriers is that solar batteries have a high upfront cost, which makes installation harder for residents.
- Home batteries require physical space, proper ventilation, and can’t always be placed just anywhere, especially in smaller homes or apartments.
- Most batteries, like lithium-ion batteries, last 5 to 15 years, meaning they may need replacement during your solar system’s lifetime.
- While many systems are low-maintenance, some may require software updates, monitoring, or even professional servicing over time.
- Battery production involves mining and processing materials like lithium or lead, which raise environmental and ethical concerns.
Should You Buy a Solar Battery?: Here’s the Final Call!
You should consider buying a solar battery if several key factors align with your situation.
First, it’s a strong financial move if you live in a state where federal and state incentives can significantly reduce the upfront cost. This can make the investment far more affordable.
A solar battery can be especially worthwhile if you value having backup power during outages, lowering your electricity bills, and gaining a measure of energy independence from the grid.
Additionally, you should be comfortable with taking a few extra steps to get the most value out of your system, such as joining a virtual power plant (VPP), which allows your battery to participate in grid services in exchange for modest returns.
Finally, it’s worth noting that rebates decline annually, and early adopters get the most value.
Takeaway Thoughts
Installing a solar battery in Australia in mid‑2025 offers substantial financial, environmental, and energy‑security benefits, especially if you qualify for multiple subsidies and have good solar capacity.
With rebates shrinking after 2025 and demand surging, early movers stand to benefit most.
By helping balance the grid and reduce dependence on fossil fuels, home battery adoption contributes significantly to Australia’s national goals of 82% renewable energy by 2030.
It’s not just about savings; it’s about being part of a smarter, cleaner, more resilient electricity future for Australia.
Looking for CEC-accredited local installers?
Contact us today for any of your solar needs. We’d be happy to assist!
Your Solution Is Just a Click Away
The post Should I Get a Solar Battery Storage System? appeared first on Cyanergy.
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