Mitigation measures and methods for reviewing effectiveness
The measures undertaken by the department during 2017–18 to minimise the effects of its operational activities on the environment and the mechanisms for monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness of measures to reduce impacts, are outlined below, in accordance with the requirements of EPBC Act section 516A 6d and e.
Office and building energy efficiency
Total energy
The department’s total portfolio annual energy consumption in 2017–18 decreased 13% to 73,362 GJ. The decrease is mainly due to the reduction in overall leased area, ongoing energy efficiency upgrades and reduced on-site server usage.
The department undertook energy audits at a number of its sites, with a focus on auditing and reviewing laboratory energy use. This is an ongoing priority as it has enabled the identification and effective implementation of energy efficiency upgrades which will continue into 2018–19.
Energy intensity
The department’s performance remained consistent against the EEGO target for office tenant light and power and energy intensity. Energy intensity in the other buildings category has reduced by 56%, which may be an anomaly as not all AAO data was available.
Emissions and GreenPower
Stationary energy emissions decreased 12% due to the department’s exit from the Nishi building and the loss of the benefit from the photo-voltaic solar array at that site.
The office building and other facility end use categories account for the majority of the department’s greenhouse gas emissions, which is due to the greater greenhouse impact of electricity, compared to other fuel types. Consequently, energy saving strategies in buildings offers the greatest potential for further reductions to the department’s greenhouse emissions.
EEGO minimum energy performance standards (MEPS)
The energy performance of the property portfolio is rated using the National Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) for offices. The department strives to occupy office buildings and tenancies that are designed to achieve the EEGO Policy’s minimum energy performance standard of at least 4.5 stars. NABERS office energy ratings (without green power) for the department’s largest office tenancies (>2,000sqm) during the reporting period included:
- 10 Binara St, Canberra: 4.5-stars for tenancy and 5-stars for base building
- 341 George St Sydney: 5-stars for tenancy and 4-stars for base building.
Main office tenancy
The Building Management System (BMS) at the department’s main tenancy, Industry House in Canberra, received a software update during 2017–18, which has provided detailed energy analysis and energy performance reporting to inform the tenancy’s energy management plan.
Earth Hour
The department participated nationally in Earth Hour on 24th March 2018, to promote greenhouse emission awareness and to review lighting system operations.
Continual improvement
The department continues to monitor environmental performance and will work with the new Property Service Provider, Evolve FM, to improve its processes and reporting.
Waste performance
To increase waste separation, recovery and diversion from landfill, the department has continued to educate staff about its National Waste Program. The program is based on five key practices:
- streaming recyclable and non-recyclable waste into separate bins
- colour-coding bins and signage to Australian Waste Standards (AS 4123.7-2008)
- locating bins in central areas where waste is created
- providing under-desk recycling bins that staff sort, check and keep clean
- removing general waste (non-recycling) bins from individual workstations.
The department continues to reduce waste and improve its long term waste management practices, with the 2017–18 outcomes including:
- developing and implementing a strategic waste management system that delivers coordinated and consistent internal and external waste infrastructure, on site processes, cleaning and waste services from contractors, and communication and awareness material for staff and contractors
- improving waste monitoring, measurability and reporting capability
- the department diverted approximately 161 tonnes of waste from landfill in 2017–18 at offices, laboratories and public buildings around Australia.
- improved awareness of waste recycling opportunities and streams, which includes: comingled or mixed recycling, paper, food organics, batteries, soft plastics, toner cartridges, expanded polystyrene and cardboard
- the department reported a 63% recycling rate for its Canberra offices and a 40% recycling rate for its public buildings. The waste management system in offices, laboratories and public buildings continued to achieve very good results, with 18 tonnes of organic material diverted from landfill over the reporting year, reducing emissions and producing beneficial worm castings and compost.
Given the dynamic nature of the government leasing environment, bin infrastructure utilised by the department has been designed and standardised to meet short and long term needs, so that it can be relocated to any site around Australia. Multi-bin ‘waste and recycling stations’ are designed to fit any kitchen floor plan and be easily recognised and understood by staff based at any site (e.g. look, colour, style, and signage), similar to an exit sign.
Snapshot of waste at two tenancies
The performance of waste reduction efforts at Industry House (an office) is as follows:
- Total waste generated: 238 g/person/day
- Recyclables recovery rate: 150 g/person/day
- Recycling rate: 63%
By comparison, the annual waste performance at a Victorian laboratory site is as follows:
- Total waste generated: 33 tonnes
- Total landfill: 16 tonnes
- Total recycled: 17 tonnes
- Total organics: 9 tonnes – this is due to a focussed education campaign and high staff participation rates, and will form the model for future roll-out across the department
ICT sustainability
End user computer environment
The department is progressively updating monitors throughout all offices. The new monitors are more energy efficient. They are also larger and replace the current dual-screen arrangement, thereby using less power. The department’s virtual desktop system automatically logs staff off at the end of each day or after periods of inactivity. The virtual desktops also shut down overnight and on weekends, with only the small number left running for staff who work at these times. This helps to reduce the power usage at the desk and within the data centre.
Main data centre and data rooms
The power use effectiveness (PUE) for the main data centre and data rooms has increased from 1.60 to 1.65 in 2017–18. Improvements were made to the main data centre’s cooling and after-hours hot air extraction that also lead to reduced energy consumption. All other data rooms across 10 office floors are set to incorporate the same cooling improvements in 2018–2019.
Other improvements in 2017–18 included:
- the ongoing replacement and installation of the racks which are currently being used for networking equipment
- removal of 90% of all underfloor copper and fibre cables to increase airflow efficiency.
Performance of public buildings: Questacon
Questacon successfully transitioned to the new international standard for environmental management systems, ISO 14001-2015.
Other highlights include:
- the environmental policy has been successful in reflecting the context and goals of the organisation
- the Questacon Sustainability Group continues to improve communications and awareness of environmental and sustainability issues at Questacon
- a waste audit was undertaken in June 2018, with recommendations to be implemented 2018–19.
Procurement of goods and services
In line with the requirements of the Commonwealth Procurement Rules, the department considers environmental sustainability as part of its value for money assessment. The department’s procurement and grants toolkit provides templates and guidance to assist staff on undertaking procurement sustainably. The department maintains one hundred percent usage of recycled paper for general use office copy paper.
Transport energy - vehicles
Transport energy reported by the department relates to two types of fleet vehicles used: passenger vehicles (less than 3.5 tonnes) and other vehicles (larger than 3.5 tonnes). Total transport energy decreased 10%, resulting in a 9% reduction in transport related emissions.
Passenger vehicles
Passenger vehicles continue to account for 82% of the department’s transport energy use. The number of fleet vehicles in this category decreased over the reporting period, energy use also decreased by eight per cent and distance travelled decreased by twelve percent, the energy intensity (i.e., energy consumption per kilometre travelled measured in MJ/km) decreased by eleven per cent from 3.62 to 3.21 in 2017–18 which was effected by the decrease in fleet vehicles.
Other vehicles
In 2017–18, the department reported a total energy use of 1,305 GJ within the other transport category, which accounted for 18% of total transport energy use. The number of department vehicles larger than 3.5 tonnes reduced to seven in 2017-18, and they consumed less diesel fuel compared to 2016–17 due to lower mileage.
