Print this pageHelping the environment
Our building at One National Circuit was built in accordance with the Australian building greenhouse rating scheme to have an energy rating of 4.5 stars. The achievement of 4.5 stars is on track, with the assessment for the first 16 months of occupation to commence in July 2008.
The department has adopted a ‘green lease schedule’ for its building, which contains mutual obligations for tenants and owners of office buildings to achieve energy-efficient targets. Under the schedule, both parties agree to an energy management plan and work jointly to review progress against the plan, monitor energy targets and address issues as they arise.
Minimising harm
Measures to minimise harm to the environment were integrated into the high performance building structure of our new One National Circuit building.
We applied sustainable design principles to ensure a high energy rating throughout the building’s lifecycle. The focus on premium grade services, innovative techniques and state-of-the-art technology ensures reliable systems, low outgoings and optimum energy efficiency. The building incorporates a large number of energy-saving and water-saving devices designed to reduced greenhouse emissions.
In August 2007 the then Secretary endorsed our Environmental Policy Statement and Green Commitment. Through this policy and commitment, we aim to reduce our impact on the environment and comply with relevant environmental legislation, regulations, policies and initiatives.
The policy is the driver for our Environmental Management System at One National Circuit. This system has been developed in line with International Standard for Environmental Management Systems ISO14001:2004 and is a tool for continuous improvement in its environmental management. As part of the Environmental Management System, we developed a set of programs to outline specific initiatives addressing environmental performance issues and we established an Environmental Management System Steering Group.
Our Green Commitment 2007–08 outlined the areas where we can make a difference in reducing our environmental impact in a simple, practical way on a day-to-day basis. During 2007–08 we focused on reducing the generation of waste and the consumption of energy, and on incorporating environmental better practice in our purchasing activities. The Green Commitment also aimed to increase staff awareness of environmental issues and responsibilities.
From 12–18 November 2007 we celebrated National Recycling Week with a recycling awareness display and a waste and recycling quiz. The display provided staff with practical examples of what can and cannot be recycled, both at work and at home.
Waste recycling was routinely monitored and measured on a monthly basis throughout 2007–08. On average, we consistently recycled around 95 per cent of our waste each month.
On Saturday 29 March 2008 we participated in Earth Hour, an initiative led by World Wildlife Fund Australia to raise awareness of climate change. During Earth Hour, lights were turned off along with the majority of our computers, multi-function devices, printers, office equipment and whitegoods. On the day of Earth Hour, we achieved a reduction of 15.82 per cent in electricity use.
As described under Output Group 1, the Industry, Infrastructure and Environment Division provides information, analysis and advice to the Prime Minister and the senior executive on environment policy covering the marine environment, forests, natural resource management, heritage and climate change. The division helps coordinate the implementation of the government’s policies.
Measures taken to reduce the department’s environmental impacts in 2007–08 included:
- configuring all printers and multi-function devices with duplex printing as the default
- commencing a virtualisation project to reduce the number of information technology servers supporting the department and consequently reducing energy usage
- developing a Go Green @ One National campaign using our intranet site, screen savers and posters to raise staff awareness of environmental issues, and their responsibilities
- introducing a recycling initiative for mobile phones
- including environmental clauses in appropriate tender documentation and recycling clauses in appropriate contracts, and
- conducting regular reviews of the operating times of lighting and air conditioning systems to achieve continued improvement in energy efficiency, particularly in the ‘office, tenant, light and power’ category.
We report energy consumption annually in the whole-of-government energy report (titled Energy use in the Australian Government’s operations), highlighting progress towards achieving government targets in relation to electricity, gas and fuel consumption.
We source 10 per cent of our electricity needs from renewable sources under the whole-of-government energy supply contract managed by the Department of Defence, reducing the carbon dioxide produced in order to supply our needs.
At June 2008, 66 per cent of our pool fleet and 50 per cent of the entire vehicle fleet were rated at 10.5 per cent or better according to the Green Vehicle Guide. The guide scores vehicles on a performance scale based on air pollution, greenhouse emissions and fuel consumption.
The better the environmental performance of the vehicle, the higher the score. The Australian Government has set a target requiring 28 per cent of government fleet vehicles to have a Green Vehicle Guide score of 10.5 or more. We continue to monitor the use of E10 ethanol blended fuel in our vehicle fleet, in line with the government commitment to encourage biofuel use where possible. More than 49 per cent of the fuel we used in 2007–08 was E10.
We will continue to demonstrate our commitment to ecologically sustainable development and environmental performance through:
- developing and implementing measures to prevent and minimise pollution
- incorporating environmental better practice into all technological solutions and daily operations, including purchasing and office accommodation practices
- complying with all relevant Australian Government, state and territory environmental legislation, regulations, policies and initiatives, and any other applicable requirements
- operating in an environmentally responsible manner by reducing waste, recycling and minimising the use of energy, water and natural resources, and
- fostering an environmentally responsible culture throughout PM&C.
Our advice to the Prime Minister takes into account the impact on the environment, the community and the Budget, and includes environmental impact statements where biodiversity and ecological integrity is identified as being at risk. These concepts are particularly relevant when we provide advice on such things as the impact of climate change, water reform and alternative energy.
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