Cool Community - Clean Future

LESS partnered with Western Power and Enermet, to carry out a unique trial with household volunteers from the communities of Nedlands, Claremont and Dalkeith in Perth, to help manage the patterns of electricity demand during peak demand days in summer. Western Power is an electricity networks corporation in Perth and surrounding areas. The program was called 'Cool Community - Clean Future'.

Western Power enlisted volunteers to participate in this trial during the 2007/08 summer, which involved the load control of their home air conditioner units on the hottest days.

The trial achieved better managemenet of peak electricity use. This demand management approach can be a cost-effective and beneficial alternative to supply side options. Such options include large capital investments in network infrastructure that may be required to meet the high electricity demand which occurs on only a handful of days each year. By reducing the demand, Western Power's program created significant financial and environmental savings.

Similar trials have been carried out successfully in South Australia during the past two summers. It is also being implemented in Queensland and New South Wales by other electricity network companies.

How

Eligible owner-occupiers in the area volunteered to participate in the trial which involved installing ‘switching devices’ on refrigerative and reverse cycle air conditioners in the volunteers’ homes.  The devices enabled Western Power to alter the air conditioner compressor’s regular pattern of switching on and off. 

This means that for a few minutes at a time during Perth’s hottest days, the device was activated to reduce the frequency at which the air conditioner’s compressor was switched on.  This subsequently reduced the amount of electricity consumed while the air conditioner was on. The air conditioner’s fan remained constantly on, so that cool air was moved around the home as per usual, and comfort levels were not affected.

Who

LESS helped deliver this trial in partnership with Western Power, as well as other companies including the technology-providers Enermet.  If you would like more information, visit the Western Power site here.