5 September
2006 - Australian Government agencies have cut
their energy consumption by 5.2 per cent and greenhouse
gas emissions by 2.3 per cent over the past seven
years.
Minister for the Environment
and Heritage, Senator Ian Campbell, today provided
details on energy consumption from 115 government
departments and agencies in the annual report
Energy Use in the Australian Government’s Operations
2004-2005.
In announcing the reductions,
Senator Campbell noted that in the past year Australian
Government departments and agencies recorded drops
of 0.89 per cent in energy consumption and 0.23
per cent in greenhouse gas emissions.
“Since reporting was introduced
in 1997 the Australian Government has reduced
its energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions,
in spite of the numbers of Australian Government
employees or occupants increasing,” Senator Campbell
said.
“Some of the simple actions
undertaken by government agencies have included
the upgrading of computer monitors from CRT to
LCD technologies, reducing the numbers of light
globes, while maintaining effective lighting coverage,
and refurbishing office space to be more energy
efficient.
“These results show that it
is possible for large organisations to reduce
energy costs as well as benefit the environment
– simply by being smarter energy users. Reducing
energy use is a practical and financially rewarding
step that all Australian organisations and households
can take,” he said.
The report also reveals that
the use of Green Power from renewable sources
has improved, with the CSIRO recording an increase
of 96 per cent since last year’s report.
Senator Campbell also announced
that in the future agencies are set to make more
improvements under the revitalised energy policy,
Energy Efficiency in Government Operations (EEGO)
which agencies will report under in future years.
“EEGO sets out revised targets
for government agencies, which will lead to financial
savings, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions
and energy use. Our Government will continue to
show leadership in cutting energy consumption
and this policy will help us to make more reductions
in years to come,” Senator Campbell said.
Senator Campbell will table
the annual report in Parliament today.
For more information and to access the documents
please visit www.deh.gov.au
Rob Broadfield
