Main Content

Energy and Greenhouse

The City of Perth has been progressing energy and greenhouse reduction projects for over 12 years. The City has been a member of the Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Campaign since 1998 which is an international program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CCP, which provided active technical and strategic support to local governments across Australia, has been cut back considerably due to lack of funding. CCP is an ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability (see link on right) program.

Throughout CCP Campaign the City of Perth was formally recognised as having completed the following milestones:-

  • Milestone 1: Calculation of total greenhouse gas emissions for the City’s corporate operations and services, and for the community (an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions)
  • Milestone 2: Establishment of a 20% reduction target for both corporate and community emissions, by 2010, based on 1996/97 levels
  • Milestone 3: Development of a Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Strategy (see link on right)
  • Milestone 4: Demonstration of the successful implementation of a number of actions to reduce greenhouse emissions
  • Milestone 5: Completion of a re-inventory of greenhouse emissions for comparison to baseline year

The City has completed two more corporate inventories since its first inventory of 2001/2002 emissions. The most recent inventory was undertaken for the 2005/06 financial year. The City was due to review its progress towards its target this year however due to the reduced CCP program this is currently not possible.

Since the City started to quantify emission reductions in 2000/01, it has reduced projected (business-as-usual) emissions by 22,936 tonnes of CO2e – made up of 4,424 tonnes CO2e of corporate emissions, and 18,512 tonnes CO2e of community emissions.

The City has achieved these reductions by implementing a range of initiatives, including:

  • running the CitySwitch Green Office program (see information below and link on right) working with commercial office tenants to reduce energy use
  • the support of (in conjunction with the Public Transport Authority of WA) the Central Area Transit System (CATS) free local bus services around the central Perth area
  • the purchase of several hybrid (dual-fuel) vehicles for the City’s vehicle fleet
  • the purchase of two electric horticultural vehicles and three hybrid electric passenger fleet vehicles
  • participation in a carbon offset program on an ongoing basis to offset the City’s greenhouse emissions from its vehicle fleet
  • participating in and actively supporting Earth Hour (see link on right)
  • the development and implementation of a workplace Green Transport Plan through the TravelSmart program (see link on right)
  • the introduction of LCD screens in Council House (the City’s administration building)
  • the capture of landfill gas at the Mindarie Regional Council landfill site
  • the installation of solar powered ticket machines for parking bays throughout the City
  • the installation of energy efficient lighting systems to reduce energy use by City of Perth carparks

CitySwitch Green Office

In 2008 the CitySwitch Green Office Program (see link on right) was expanded into the City of Perth. The focus of the Program is the commercial office tenancy sector within the City of Perth. CitySwitch Green Office engages with individual building tenants to assist them reduce their energy use and to promote their commitment and achievements. The Program is run in partnership between the cities of Sydney, North Sydney, Parramatta, Willoughby, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide and state government agencies.

To become a CitySwitch Green Office signatory, organisations are required to commit to:-

  • Commence a benchmark NABERS Energy tenancy rating of their office within 3 months
  • Develop and implement an Energy Action Plan to achieve and maintain a 4 stars or higher accredited NABERS Energy tenancy
  • Appoint an Energy Manager to monitor actual performance
  • Request a NABERS Energy base building rating from the building owner/manager
  • Promote energy efficiency to staff, customers and suppliers and share their experiences with other Signatories
  • Obtain an annual NABERS Energy Rating and provide feedback on their success in a formal Progress Report

Further details about the program, including how to join, are available on the CitySwitch Green Office website (see link on right).

Switch Your Thinking!

The Switch Your Thinking! program (see link on right) has been expanded into the City of Perth. The program has been developed by the South East Regional Energy Group (SEREG) to address commuinity energy consumption.

The City has since been involved in one project under the Switch Your Thinking program, the Green Light Community Fundraiser.  Plans are in place to deliver further projects to increase the uptake of energy efficiency appliances and behaviour, and reduce energy use, in the City community.

 

End of Document