A clean energy advocacy group has called for Australia’s home owners to reduce their residential carbon emissions by half. Beyond Zero Emissions has published its Zero Carbon Australia Buildings Plan, which suggests that homes could also reduce gas consumption by upgrading to energy-efficient electrical appliances. The plan was produced jointly with the Melbourne Energy Institute, and it argues that emissions at home could be cut by as much as 53%. For commercial buildings, a reduction of 44% is achievable. These targets could be reached within a decade. Residential and commercial buildings are responsible for around a quarter of Australia’s annual carbon emissions. The plan suggests that homes could use a variety of measures to reduce emissions. These include improved insulation, heat pumps, and renewable energy such as solar. For residential housing, introducing these measures could cost around $157 billion, with an additional $77 billion for solar and grid upgrades. The plan points out that if the costs were staggered over a decade, it would be cheaper than the $30 billion spent every year on renovations. Trent Hawkins, project director of the plan, says that households would realise a net present saving of $40 billion after 30 years.