Carbon Cops - ABC Television

In mid-2007 ABC TV began broadcasting a reality-TV style programme, "Carbon Cops". Each weekly episode features a different family, who make efforts to reduce their carbon emissions as well as improve other sustainability factors such as water consumption and waste production. This typically involves

• the application of technology, such as energy- and water-efficient appliances,
• changes to lifestyle, such as walking and composting, and
• carbon-offsetting.

A similar series, Ecohouse, was screened by SBS TV earlier in 2007.

Four Corners: Home Front - ABC Television

ABC Television's current affairs program Four Corners broadcast an episode entitled "Home Front" that focussed on practical and achievable ways Australians can reduce their energy consumption. The program also revealed that such efforts to save energy at home are being retarded by vested interests and a bewildering variety of rules and rebates, local, state and federal.

Ecohouse Challenge SBS Television

SBS Television ran a six-part series call "Echohouse Challenge" in April/May 2007. The program followed two Perth families' efforts to reduce their environmental impact in four key hotspots:

1. Energy
2. Water
3. Waste
4. Transport

The series was entertaining as it used a reality television format as well as being quite informative. It demonstrated that significant, sustained reductions could be achieved through a combination of changes to lifestyle, e.g. using public transport, turning off lights and electrical appliances when not in use, and the application of technology, e.g. energy- and water-efficient domestic appliances, solar hot water systems.

A second series is being planned.

ABC TV plans a similar series, "Carbon Cops", to be aired mid-2007.