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Sustainability Toolkit Oces
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This publication has been supported by unding rom the Australian
Government Department o the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts,through the Education or Sustainability Grants Program.
The views and opinions expressed in this publication are those o theauthors and do not necessarily reect those o the Australian Governmentor the Minister or the Environment, Heritage and the Arts or the Ministeror Climate Change and Water.
While reasonable eorts have been made to ensure that the contents othis publication are actually correct, the Commonwealth and the NSWBusiness Chamber do not accept responsibility or the accuracy orcompleteness o the contents, and shall not be liable or any loss or
damage that may be occasioned directly or indirectly through the use o, orreliance on, the contents o this publication.
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Climate change will aect every Australian
business and is one o the most critical riskactors that will impact the viability obusinesses. As a result, climate change andsustainability have moved beyond buzzwords to being signifcant actors inbusiness planning and operations. Businesssustainability preparation is more thanenvironmental preservation, it recognisesthe impact o businesses on society,employees and the collective wealth o anation. It also helps businesses improveefciency and productivity, which makesgood business sense economically,environmentally and socially.
Although larger businesses have generallybeen the frst movers in addressing climatechange within their organisations, allbusinesses will be impacted, regardless osize. The eects o climate changeregulation on large businesses andindustries will be passed on throughout thesupply chain and will be elt by everyone,even though direct compliance will notimpact most businesses. Early preparationor climate change and energy regulation isthe most efcient and cost eective way toensure the long-term survival o your
business.NSW Business Chamber recognises thatbusiness owners and operators are essentialto the livelihood o the Australian economy,but are oten neglected in sustainabilityinormation sources. To address this issue,we have developed a practical and tailoredtoolkit to assist and advise micro, small,medium and large businesses that seek tounderstand and implement their ownsustainability programs. The sustainabilitytoolkit is one component o a multitude obusiness resources to assist in the transition
to a carbon-constrained economy.
We are also taking on the challenge tobecome more sustainable ourselves. TheNSW Business Chamber has joined theSustainability Advantage Program,administered by the NSW Department oEnvironment and Climate Change, and wehave made signifcant progress in achievingsustainability best practices.
I congratulate businesses that have taken onthe challenge o becoming a moresustainable organisation and in doing so,support their community and theenvironment. We encourage members to
document their successes and let theirclients, industry and stakeholders know andengage in the process.
It makes good business sense to besustainable.
Kind regards,
Kevin MacDonald
CEO, NSW Business Chamber
Opening
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Opening 3
Section I: Understanding Sustainability 6
What is Sustainability? 6
Sustainability in the Workplace 6
What is Climate Change? 6
Climate Change in Australia 7
Risk Management 8
Benets o Early Response 9
Section II: Getting Started 10
Step 1: Obtain Management Commitment 10
Step 2: Understand Historical and Current Resource Usage 10
Step 3: Establish Baselines, Benchmarks and Targets 11
Baseline 11
Benchmarking 12
Key Perormance Indicators (KPIS) and Targets 12Energy Benchmarks 13
Water Benchmarks 14
Waste Benchmarks 15
Step 4: Audit 16
Walk-Through Audit 16
Detailed Technical Audit 16
Additional Auditing Assistance 16
Step 5: Prioritise an Action Plan 17
Step 6: Monitor and Measure 17
Step 7: Sta Engagement 17
Education 18Rewards 18
Section III: Actioning Sustainability 19
Energy Eciency 19
Lighting 19
Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) 20
Building Envelope 21
Ofce Equipment 21
Water 22
Kitchens and Break Rooms 22
Transportation 22
Water Eciency 23
Bathroom 23
Kitchens 23
Cooling Towers 24
Garden Areas 24
Water Harvesting 24
Recycling 24
Fact Sheets 24
Resource Eciency and Waste Reduction 25
Waste Avoidance and Reduction 25
Reuse 25
Recycling 25
Ofce Supplies 26
Building Design and Renovations 26
Section IV: Next Steps 27
Supply Chain 27
Sustainable Procurement Policy 27
Taking it to the Next Level 28
Efciency First 28Renewable Energy 28
Carbon Osetting 29
Carbon Neutral 29
Continuous Improvement 29
Table o Contents
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Section V: Additional Inormation 30
Legislation 30
Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme (CPRS) 30
National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting System (NGERS) 30
Greenhouse Gas Reduction Scheme (GGAS) 30
Nsw Energy Efciency Trading Scheme (NEET) 30
Minimum Energy Perormance Standards (MEPS) Lighting 30
Funding Opportunities 31
Government Programs 32
Complementary Inormation 32
Glossary 33
Appendix 34
Walk-Through Audits 34
Energy Walk-Through Audit
Water Walk-Through Audit
Waste Walk-Through Audit
Reerences
Sustainability:
Making sense
into cents
Reducing energy, water and wasteconsumption in your organisation makesgreat business sense. It can:
Save money>
Minimise climate change risk>
Enhance business image>
Improve customer and sta satisaction>
This toolkit serves as an introductory guideto basic sustainability principles, practicesand actions that any business can employ tohelp manage their costs and climate changeimpacts.
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What is sustainability?Sustainability is a orm o progress ordevelopment that meets current needswithout compromising the ability o uturegenerations to meet their needs. It is a termused to describe process impacts on climatechange, water, energy, natural resources andwaste.
Sustainability involves accounting or threemain actors: environmental, economic andsocial considerations. These three principlesare oten reerred to as the triple bottomline (TBL). In practical terms, the TBL goesbeyond traditional fnancial accounting andestimates the impact o a process, such as aspecifc business operation, on social andenvironmental perormance.
In the business community the TBL isrequently addressed through corporatesocial responsibility (CSR). CSR is a concept
whereby organisations take responsibility o(and requently report on) the environmentaland social interests o stakeholders impactedby their business practices. Stakeholdersinclude a contingency o customers,suppliers, employees, shareholders and thelocal community. At this stage, CSR is anoptional responsibility measure and thedegree o disclosure and action diersgreatly depending on companiessustainability goals.
Standardisation o the various businesssustainability reporting mechanisms is
underway through the Global ReportingInitiative (GRI), which aims to combine
sustainability, TBL and CSR reporting intoone common ramework. This system canthen be used as a consistent gauge obusinesses inuence beyond fnancialmeasures. At this stage, the GRI rameworkis optional and mainly designed or the verylarge businesses.
Sustainability in the workplace
Sustainability is not a passing ad or one-oproject, it is a critical decision makingprocess that will aid your business inmanaging its costs and environmentaloutcomes as well as provide benefts tocustomers and employees. The principles osustainability, outlined in this toolkit, shouldbe actored into core business decisions thesame way cost, service and risk areaddressed in traditional organisationalplanning. There are many benefts toaccounting or sustainability in yourbusiness decisions, including cost reduction,improved process efciency, reducedenvironmental impacts and enhanced
company image. Thus, integratingsustainability into business planning,policies, practices and training should beconsidered standard practice, not anoptional add-on.
What is climate change?Climate change, oten used interchangeablywith global warming, reers to any
signifcant change in climate such astemperature, precipitation, or wind, lastingor an extended period such as decades orlonger. Global warming is an averageincrease in the temperature o theatmosphere near the Earths surace and inthe troposphere, which can contribute tochanges in global climate patterns1.Whether manmade or naturally occurring,climate change is having a noticeableimpact on the environment. Within alietime, serious environmental changes arebeing observed which will diminish thecapacity we have to maintain our quality olie and provide or uture generations.
Section I: Understanding Sustainability
Figure 1.Sustainability and TBL Diagram
Economic
Social Environment
SustainabilityEnhanced Greenhouse Effect
Human activities particularly burning fossilfuels (coal, oil and naturalgas), agriculture and landclearing are generatingmore greenhouse gases.
Greater concerntrations ofgreenhouse gases will trap
more heat and raise theEarths surface temperature.
The Greenhouse Effect
The earth is covered by ablanket of gases which allowsenergy from the sun to reach
the Earths surface, wheresome of it is converted to
heat energy. Most of the heatis re-radiated towards space,
but some is re-radiatedtowards the ground by
greeenhouse gases in theatmosphere. This is a natural
effect which keeps the Earthstemperature at a level
necessary to support life.
Figure 2. Greenhouse eect2
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Climate change and global warming arecaused by greenhouse gases (GHG) whichcreate a greenhouse eect o warming theearth. Greenhouse gases are a natural parto the atmosphere. They absorb andre-radiate the Suns warmth and maintainthe Earths surace temperature at a levelnecessary to support lie. The problem wenow ace is that human actions, particularly
burning ossil uels such as coal, oil andnatural gas, and agriculture and landclearing, increase the concentrations o thegases that trap heat. This is the enhancedgreenhouse eect, which is contributing toa warming o the Earths surace andcreating dangerous side eects such asincreased requency and intensity o storms,droughts, ooding and raising sea levels2.
Under the Kyoto Protocol Agreement thatAustralia ratifed in 2007, a mixture o sixtypes o greenhouse gases are monitoredand targeted or reduction to address
climate change. For ease o understanding,these six gases are then changed andreported in the equivalents o carbon. Soclimate change is not just carbon emissions,it is a combination o six main greenhousegases. Each o these gases has a dierent
potential or trapping heat, which is knowas the global warming potential (GWP). Forexample, carbon dioxide (CO
2) has a GWP o
1, while methane (CH4) has a GWP o 23,
meaning CH4
has more potential to trapheat than CO
2, even though it exists in
smaller relative quantities then CO2.
Note: The terms carbon emissions, emissions
and greenhouse gas emissions are usedinterchangeably in this toolkit.
Climate change in AustraliaResearch by Australian and internationalscientists shows that although Australiascontribution to climate change is minimalon global levels, its environment andeconomy will likely be one o the astest andhardest hit by climate change due to theextreme heat and dryness o the continent.Rising global temperatures are projected toincrease the risk o rising sea levels,bushfres, ooding, drought, changes in
biodiversity and ecosystems, evaporationrates, water quality and availability andextreme weather/storms. These risks coulddangerously impact Australians personalliestyles, businesses and Government.
Consequently, Australia is being proactive inaddressing and understanding climatechange mitigation and adaptation.
How Australian businesses and economicsystems cope with these impacts dependson the extent and rate o climate change,and on their capacity or adaptation.Australias CSIRO concluded that reducing
carbon emissions would reduce the rate andmagnitude o climate change, therebyallowing businesses more time to adapt.Acting early to cut emissions reducesdamage and buys much-needed time4.
To address climate change issues and meetits commitments under the Kyoto Protocol,the Australian Government plans toimplement a carbon trading scheme calledthe Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme(CPRS). CPRS is a cap and trade scheme thatis targeted to reduce Australias carbonemissions between 5 per cent and 15 percent below 2000 levels by the end 2020. The
cap achieves the environmental outcome oreducing carbon pollution. The ability totrade ensures carbon pollution is reduced atthe lowest possible cost.
Rainfall changes Temperature changes
20702030 2070
WetterDrier
Rainfall change (%)
-80-60-40-20 0 20 40 60 80
Temperature change (%) Temperature change (%)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8-80-60-40-20 0
Rainfall change (%)
2030 WetterDrier
20 40 60 80
Figure 4. Projected changes in Australian precipitation (let) and temperature(right) in 2030 and 20705
HFCs and PFCsHydrofluorocarbonsand Perfluorocarbons 1%
N2O
Nitrous Oxide 4%
CH4Methane 21%
CO2Carbon Dioxide* 74%
* Includes confidential emissions reported as CO2e
Figure 3. Contribution to total netCO
2-equivalent emissions
by gas 2006 in Australia
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Climate change and sustainability can beconsidered in terms o business riskmanagement. Every business needs tounderstand the major risks to its operationsand proftability; this is no dierent in thecontext o sustainability. Aspects osustainability such as energy and water arecritical to every business and a lack oavailability or large increases in costs could
have signifcant negative impacts on thebusiness bottom line.
The core climate change risks to businessesare:
Higher energy costs>
Increased general business costs including>insurance premiums, raw materials,transportation, etc.
Loss o revenue>
Increased legislative requirements>
Consumer expectations or greener>businesses and products
Australian obligations through the KyotoProtocol and similar internationalenvironmental agreements have resulted inadditional legislation that impactbusinesses. Such legislation mainly targetslarge and very large businesses; however,the impact will also be elt by supportivebusinesses through the supply chain. Thiscould result in corporations providing theirown legislation on products and servicespurchased. For example, in their eorts tomeet their own sustainability goals, largerbusinesses may manage their suppliers byrequiring them to demonstrate proo ogreen initiatives, environmentalmanagement systems or policies. The bestmanagement o climate change risks andsustainability is to act early and prepare ordoing business in a carbon-constrainedeconomy. This will identiy and allow orchanges where necessary, as well as positiona business ahead o its competitors.
Identiying the areas o your business thatare at risk to climate change will helpidentiy and prioritise immediate and longerterm actions to address these risks. Eachbusiness will need to evaluate climatechange risks based on its individualoperating requirements and procedures.However, the key areas to consider include:
Physical structure risksIncreased insurance premiums due to>climate change issues
Structural damage rom storms, fres and>oods
Transportation delays or interruptions due>to storm, heat and/or water damage
Supply cost risks
Increased raw material costs>
Increased supply costs>
Increased transportation costs>
Decreased water availability>
Increased water costs>Increased energy costs>
Interruption or cessation o supply ows>
Regulatory and litigation risks
Carbon emission liabilities>
Loss o tenders due to lack o>sustainability or environmental policy
Non-compliance fnes>
Business delays rom lack o preparedness>or regulations
Liability or non-compliance with>regulations or non-disclosure
Liability or non-compliance with client>sustainability requirements
Market and competitive risks
Loss o new and existing consumer base>by not oering green products andoperating procedures
Loss o market share to competitors>oering o greener products and services
Reputation risks
Lack o consumer/client confdence in> organisation
Appearance o being less innovative and>not proactive compared to competitors
Loss o revenue resulting rom decreased>patronage
Ater the key climate change risks have beenidentifed, it is helpul to prioritise theserisks and orm an action plan. One way toorganise operating risks around climatechange is to create a risk analysis matrix.The ollowing risk analysis matrixdemonstrates how to evaluate the urgencyo addressing your organisations risks. Byorganising the risks based on likelihood andimpact, you can assess which areas are thehighest and lowest risks to yourorganisation and plan accordingly.
Additional assistance in risk assessment isavailable to businesses through programssuch as Sustainability Advantage (NSWDepartment o Environment and ClimateChange) as well as through proessionalconsultants or a ee.
Risk Management
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Risk Likelihood Impact Risk Score Sample Actions
Supply risks
Increasedsupply costs
Very likely Major Unacceptable risk Print double sided>
Investigate supply reduction and reuse options (recycling, change to>electronic invoicing)
Increasedenergy costs
Very likely Major Unacceptable risk Implement low hanging ruit energy reduction options (use energy>efcient light bulbs, adjust thermostat) immediately
Develop plan or uture energy consumption reduction options>
Increased watercosts andrestrictions
Very likely Moderate Unacceptable risk Implement low hanging ruit water saving measures (install water>saving taps, fx leaks)
Investigate longer term water savings investments (rainwater tanks,>grey water recycling, dual-ush toilets)
Market and competitive risks
Customerdemand orgreenerproducts andacilities
Likely Moderate Unacceptable risk Review operations, supplies and products or greening>opportunities
Join government sustainability assistance program such as>Sustainability Advantage
Green orsustainabilityrequirement ortendering
Likely Moderate Acceptable risk Develop an environmental or sustainabil ity policy statement>
Join government sustainability assistance program such as>Sustainability Advantage
Denote sustainability measures in Request For Proposals>
Table 2. Sample Risk Analysis
Whatisthechanceit
willhappen?
Likelihood
Very Likely Acceptable Risk
(Medium)
Unacceptable Risk
(High)
Unacceptable Risk
(Extreme)
Likely Acceptable Risk(Low)
Unacceptable Risk(Medium)
Unacceptable Risk(High)
Unlikely Acceptable Risk(Low)
Unacceptable Risk(Low)
Unacceptable Risk(Medium)
Minor Moderate Major
ImpactHow Serious Is The Risk?
Table 1. Sample Risk Matrix
Businesses that take early steps to mitigateand adapt to climate change will be betterprepared or any changes in regulations,save money through efciency and be aheado competitors that are slow to addressclimate change issues. Business operatorsmay also fnd they are able to capitalise onclimate change as a revenue-generatingopportunity by developing and marketingtechnologies, products and services thathelp others reduce their emissions, improvetheir resilience to the eects o climate
change and become greener consumers.Government and large industry initiatives
aimed at reducing emissions will create newmarkets or such products and services, aswill customer preerences or moreenvironmentally riendly options.
Benets o early action include:
Cost savings>
Increased efciency>
Competitive advantage>
New customers>
Increased customer loyalty>
Preparedness or new legislation>
On the contrary, inaction could ultimatelymean reduced revenue and possibly businessailure due to increased operating costs andloss o competitive advantage. Savvybusinesses recognise the threats and pursuethe opportunities instead.
Benefts O Early Response
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Making the decision to pursue or at leastbecome aware o sustainability in businessis commendable. When the decision hasbeen made the ollowing are important earlysteps take.
Step 1: Obtain management commitment
Step 2: Understand historical and current
resource usageStep 3: Establish baselines, benchmarks
and targets
Step 4: Audit
Step 5: Prioritise an action plan
Step 6: Monitor and measure
Step 7: Sta engagement
Step 1: Obtain managementcommitmentThe most important step in taking an active
approach to sustainability is to obtain seniormanagement commitment. It is notsufcient to just have CEO/General Managerinitiation; it is necessary to get the seniormanagers engaged in the project as well.
Managements support is necessary as theytend to have an overall view and activeparticipation in daily business operationsand strategy development. Management islikely to be responsible or implementingchange. In smaller businesses, it is thebusiness operator or owner who will need todemonstrate this commitment.
It is important to publically recordcommitment to sustainable practices orannual recognition and measurement aswell as or stakeholders to be aware o youractions. For example, NSW BusinessChamber has displayed their Commitmentonline as a way o demonstrating thatactions are being taken to become moresustainable.
As sustainability becomes part o theorganisations culture, it will be importantto continually review and update thesustainability commitments. Furthermore,measurable goals will need to be included inthe commitment to ensure that perormancecan be measured.
As a business operator, it is important thatyou lead by example. So i change isnecessary to a process, it is incumbent onyou to demonstrate that being sustainableworks.
Step 2: Understand historicaland current resource usage
In order or a business to progress andrealise savings, it is necessary to know theresource usage history and analyse thefndings.
Obtain the ollowing historical inormation:
Energy usage (gas and electrical)>
Water usage>
Waste / garbage services>
Transportation (only i easy to obtain)>
Many general suppliers will have yourbusiness on record, it might require anadministration ee, but they should be able
to provide you a summary o your usage.Organise this inormation into a meaningulormat, such as Figure 5 below.
As seen in Figure 5, water usage at thisbusiness goes through troughs and peaksthroughout the year. In this case, aterinvestigation it was ound that theair-conditioning systems utilised more waterduring summer than winter. It was alsoound that water usage on average declinedeach year. Through investigation, the mostprobable cause was that leaks and
maintenance had been more pronounced,resulting in lower consistent water usage.
When you receive a bill relating tosustainability (energy, water and waste), it isnecessary to record the fnancial andconsumption usage. Too oten the bills arepaid without checking or errors or majorchanges. Ater all, you can only managewhat you can measure. An example o howto record usage is provided below in Table 3.
Section II: Getting Started
0.0
5.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
25.0
30.0
35.0
40.0
Historical Water Usage
Jan02
kL/day
Mar02
May02
July02
Sep02
Nov02
Jan03
Mar03
May03
July03
Sep03
Jan04
Mar04
May04
July04
Sep04
Nov03
Figure 5. Historical water usage or a business
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Since Figure 5 and Table 3 are linked to thesame business, it can be seen that usage hasgradually decreased, resulting in fnancialsavings o 50%.
Step 3: Establish baselines,benchmarks and targetsBaseline
Once historical and current usage data havebeen obtained, it is important to establish abaseline. A baseline is the amount o aresource (water, energy, supplies and waste)that your business typically uses. Thebaseline is used as the comparison rate ormonitoring uture progress andbenchmarking against industry standards.Using the average consumption rate rom arecent year (12-24 months) is anappropriate baseline. For example, i thebusiness in Table 3 used 2002 as their waterbaseline, they would use $1,858.50 and 29.5kL/day to evaluate their progress in terms ousage and cost savings.
Regular monitoring o usage and costagainst the baseline will identiy theefcacy o your sustainability eorts andalso alert you to any discrepancies that needto be resolved, such as leaks or equipmentthat needs to be repaired.
Date ReadingTaken
Usage(kL/day)
Costs($)
22/01/02 37.3 2349.90
12/04/02 32.4 2041.20
07/07/02 22.3 1404.90
09/10/02 26.0 1638.00
20/01/03 18.9 1190.7024/04/03 15.9 1001.70
23/07/03 12.5 787.50
24/10/03 13.2 831.60
02/02/04 15.9 1001.70
27/04/04 21.1 1329.30
21/07/04 12.7 800.10
26/10/04 7.6 478.80
Average 19.7 1237.95
2004 Average 14.3 902.48
2003 Average 15.1 952.88
2002 Average 29.5 1858.50
Table 3.Site water consumption record
Table 4.
Business Activity Indicator
The business activity indicator is a unit omeasurement that represents the businessoperation. Preerably it is the same indicatorthat your organisation uses to assess businessefciency. For example:
For commercial buildings and shopping>
centres leasable area in m
2
For hotels and hospitals number o bed>nights or meals
For manuacturing and laundries quantity>o production in tonnes or other units
For education number o ull time student>equivalents
For irrigators area (i.e., gol courses, show>grounds reserves) in m2
For swimming pools, clubs and pubs>number o patrons
Table adapted rom NSW Department oEnergy, Utilities and Sustainability Guidelinesor Water Savings Action Plans, 2005.6
Table 5. Baseline Water Use (Sample Assessment)
Organisation Name
To be completed or all sites that are included in the organisations sustainability action plans.
Site Description Normal operation Variation rom normaloperation
Address 123 Sydney Street 321 Newcastle Street
Sydney Water Account number 12 23456 789 987 65432 21
Baseline start date 1-Jan-2006 1-Jan-2006
Baseline end date 1-Jan-2007 1-Jan-2007
A = baseline water use per annum (kL) 50,000 50,000
Business Activity Indicator Tonnes TonnesB = Quantity o site business activity indictorper annum (corrected or variations)
1,800 2,000
Is baseline representative o normal wateruse (Yes/No)
Yes No
I no, description o variation (i.e.,restrictions, shutdowns, reurbishments, etc)
Plant shutdown or(July August 06)
C = Impact o variation on water use (i.e.variation rom normal) kL per annum
0 -8,000
D = A + C baseline water use corrected orvariation (kL)
50,000 42,000
E = D/B baseline water use key perormanceindictors (KPI)
27.8 21.0
Baseline KPI units kL/tonne kL/tonne
Table adapted rom NSW Department o Energy, Utilities and Sustainability Guidelines or WaterSavings Action Plans, 2005.6
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A simple alternative waste baselinedetermination method is to weigh wastematerials over ten normal, consecutiveworking days. Then extrapolate weightmeasurements over the month or year todetermine average waste generation.Certain times o the year, such as end ofnancial year and school holidays, should beavoided when utilising this method. This
method can also be used separately orrecycled materials.
Benchmarking
Benchmarking your resource consumptionagainst industry average guidelines will helpdetermine potential savings opportunities.Use the benchmarks below as a guide toindicate the possible savings in yourbuilding. I your baseline resourceconsumption is higher than the benchmarksbelow, there is a good chance there areleaks or inefciencies in your buildingssystems. Note, you may need to convert
your baseline to the same units noted in thebenchmarks, see key perormance indicatorsbelow.
Key Perormance Indicators (KPIs)and targets
It is important to identiy resource keyperormance indicators (KPIs) or yourbuilding and set reduction targets. KPIs arequantifable measurements that reect yourprogress towards meeting your sustainabilitygoals. You can determine resource KPI unitsby using the benchmarks below. For
example, the most common water relatedKPI or commercial ofce buildings is kL/m2/year, which is the number o kilolitres owater used per square meter o ofce spaceper year9.
Resource reduction targets can also bedetermined by the benchmarks below. Forexample, the economic best practicebenchmark (Tables 9 and 10) or water usein ofce buildings without cooling towers is0.47 kL/m2/year, this will be the water usagetarget you aim to achieve and exceed.
Thereore, the actual amount o water you
are targeting to conserve per year isdetermined by subtracting 0.47 kL/m2/year
Table 6. Baseline Energy Use (Sample Assessment)
Organisation Name
To be completed or all sites that are included in the organisations sustainability action plans. Energyconsumption should be reported in most appropriate units i.e., kWh, GJ, etc.
Site number/name 1 2 3
Address 123 SydneyStreet
321 NewcastleStreet
456 BallinaStreet
Energy provider Account number 123 4567 89 987 6543 21 654 4568 45
Baseline start date 1-Jan-2006 1-Jan-2006 1-Jan-2006
Baseline end date 1-Jan-2007 1-Jan-2007 1-Jan-2007
A = baseline energy use per annum (kWh) 50,000 66,000 65,000
Greenhouse Emissions Tonnes Tonnes
(see NABERS) 45 Tonnes 59 Tonnes 59 Tonnes
Business Activity Indicators m2 m2 tonnes
B = Quantity o site business activityindicator per annum, corrected or variation
1,800 2,000 25,000
Is baseline representative o normal energyuse (Yes/No)
Yes No No
I no, description o variation (i.e.,restrictions, shutdowns, reurbishments, etc)
Increased energyconsumption dueto ofcereurbishment
or 2 months
Decreasedenergyconsumptiondue to March
2006unscheduledshutdown
C = Impact o variation on energy use (i.e.variation rom normal) kWh per annum
0 8,000 -3,000
D = A + C baseline energy use corrected orvariations (kWh)
50,000 58,000 62,000
E = D/B baseline energy use keyperormance indictors (KPI)
27.78 29.0 2.48
Baseline KPI units kWh/m2 kWh/m2 kWh/tonne
Table adapted rom NSW Department o Energy, Utilities and Sustainability Guidelines or EnergySavings Action Plans, 2005.7
Table 7. Baseline Waste and Recycling Generation (Sample Assessment)
Waste and recycling baseline
Complete separately or waste and recycling
Quantity Collected Number o containers collected multiplied by volume or weight o thecontainer
Example:Your organisation has 10 wheelie bins o paper collected or recycling (orwaste) each month.
10 X 240L Bins = 2,400L o paper collected/month2,400 X 12 = 28,400L per annum
28,000 1,000 (to convert litres to cubic metres) X 0.24 (to convert cubicmetres to tonnes) = 6.9 tonnes per annum
Cost Number o containers multiplied by cost o pickup per container.
Example:Waste contractor charges $5.50 to pick up each paper recycling bin
10 X $5.50/bin = $55.00 to recycle paper each month = $660 per annumAdapted rom A WRAPP Guide to Conducting an Ofce Waste Assessment8
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rom your baseline score. Note: You mayneed to convert your baseline into KPI units.
Whether your business receives a low orhigh rating, remember there are alwaysimprovements and efciencies that can bemade to become more sustainable.
NABERSRatings or oces
A NABERS ratingaccurately comparesthe perormance oyour ofce to othersimilar premises, andcan assist you tomanage the impact o
your ofce on the environment. NABERSratings or ofces include Energy, Water,Waste and Indoor Environment.
NABERS is the industry standard ormeasuring and benchmarking theenvironmental perormance o existing
Australian buildings, incorporating thetrusted Australian Building GreenhouseRating or ofces. NABERS is a nationalinitiative o ederal, state and territorygovernments, and is managed by the NSWDepartment o Environment and ClimateChange.
NABERS ratings are based on actual datarelated to the perormance o your premisesover the last 12 months. For a certifedrating that you can promote, you will needto engage a NABERS Accredited Assessor tocalculate your rating. This will enable you
to use the NABERS trademark. You cansel-assess the environmental perormanceo your ofce premises at no cost using theNABERS Rating calculator www.nabers.com.au/ofce.aspx - but cannot promotethis rating.
Energy benchmarks
Note: Conversion to kWh/M2/year maybe required. To eectively compare theperormance o your building againstthese benchmarks, the NABERS ratingcalculator should be used:www.nabers.com.au/ofce.aspx.
Table 8 Assumptions or energybenchmarks:
Density o computers: (m> 2/computer) 23
Hours o operation/week: 50>
Building location Sydney>
Table 8. Energy Benchmarks (based on NABERS ratings)
NABERSRating
Kg CO2/m2
Carbon emissions10
Tenancy
1 172
1.5 158
2 144
2.5 131
3 117
3.5 103
4 89
4.5 76
5 62
Base building
1 199
1.5 183
2 167
2.5 151
3 135
3.5 119
4 103
4.5 87
5 71
Whole building
1 372
1.5 342
2 313
2.5 283
3 253
3.5 223
4 193
4.5 164
5 134
Table adapted rom NABERS Benchmarks v6.010 and Sydney Water Best practice guidelinesor water conservation in commercial oce buildings and shopping centres9
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Water benchmarks
Table 9.Quick reerence o water eciency benchmarks in Sydney oce buildings9
Benchmark Oces with cooling towers Oces without cooling towers(extrapolated gures)
Median market practice with noleaks
1.01 kL/m2/year 0.64 kL/m2/year
Economic best practice (mediano implementing water savingsprojects with two year paybacks
0.84 kL/m2/year 0.47 kL/m2/year
Very well managed building 0.77 kL/m 2/year 0.40 kL/m2/year
Table 10. Water Use Benchmarks9
Waterconsumption(kL/m2/year)
Sydney Water perormancebenchmarks
NABERS Waterrating
1.801.751.701.65
1.601.551.501.451.401.351.301.251.201.151.101.05
1 star (1.73)
2 star (1.39)
2.5 star (1.21)
3 star (1.04)
Leak Zone
1.000.950.900.85
Average practice or buildings withcooling towers and no leaks (1.01)Economic best practice or buildingswith cooling towers (0.84)
3.5 star (0.87)
Cost eectiveimprovement zone orwater cooled buildings
0.800.750.70
Well managed building with coolingtowers (0.77)
4 star (0.70)Target zone or watercooled buildings
0.650.600.550.45
Average practice or buildings withoutcooling towers and no leaks (0.64)Economic best practice or buildingswithout cooling towers (0.47)
4.5 star (0.52)
Cost eectiveimprovement zone orbuildings withoutcooling towers
0.400.35
Best practice or buildings withoutcooling towers (0.40) 5 star (0.35)
Target zone orbuildings without watercooled buildings
To eectively compare the perormance o your building against these benchmarks, the NABERS ratingcalculator should be used: www.nabers.com.au/ofce.aspx.
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Waste benchmarks
Taps Showerheads Toilets Urinals9
Rating Specifcation (L/min) Specifcation (L/min)
Specifcation (L/average ush)
Specifcation (L/single stall or L/600 mmo continuous length)
0 Star > 16 > 16 N/A > 2.5 serving a single stall or 4.0 or two stalls
1 Star > 12 and < 16 > 12 and < 16 > 4.5 and < 5.5 < 4.0 serving two stalls or equivalent continuous lengtha
2 Star > 9.0 and < 12 > 9.0 and < 12 > 4.0 and < 4.5 < 2.5 serving two stalls or equivalent continuous lengtha
3 Star > 7.5 and < 9 > 7.5 and < 9 > 3.5 and < 4.0 < 2.0 serving two stalls or equivalent continuous lengtha
4 Star > 6.0 and < 7.5 > 6.0 and < 7.5 > 3.0 and < 3.5 < 1.5 serving two stalls or equivalent continuous lengtha
5 Star > 4.5 and < 6.0 > 4.5 and < 6.0 > 2.5 and < 3.0 < 1.0 serving two stalls or equivalent continuous lengtha
6 Star < 4.5 > 4.5 and < 6.0 < 2.5 < 1.0 serving two stalls or equivalent continuous lengthb
a must be ftted with demand driven or smart demand operation
b must be ftted with demand-driven or smart-demand operation with a urine sensing device
Table 11. Water Eciency Labelling and Standards Scheme (WELS) ratings9
Recycling Data
Star Rating Percentage %
0 star (not rated) 90%
NABERS version January 200810
Table 12. Recycling BenchmarkMaterials (grams/person/day)
Star Rating g/p/d
0 star > 550
1 star 500 - 549
1.5 stars 450 - 499
2 stars 400 - 449
2.5 stars 350 - 399
3 stars 300 - 349
3.5 stars 250 - 299
4 stars 200 - 249
4.5 stars 150 - 199
5 stars < 149
NABERS version January 200810
Table 13. Total Materials Generation
Note: To eectively compare the perormance o your building against these benchmarks,the NABERS rating calculator should be used: www.nabers.com.au/ofce.aspx.
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Step 4: AuditIt is essential to know the types andamounts o energy, water and materials thatare being used in your business. An audit okey resources should be conducted todetermine the overall resource efciency oyour business and opportunities or savings.The audit type that will be most useul and
cost eective to your business depends onthe size and complexity o your business andthe level o detail you require. Two commonaudit types are walkthrough audits andengineering audits.
The majority o businesses will only requirea simple walk-through audit. I the site/s iscomplex, then it may be necessary to obtainthe help o a proessional auditor.
There are Government programs that willhelp cover the costs o proessional audits.See Additional Auditing Assistance below oralternatively contact your energy provider
and request a technician do a simple audito your acilities and equipment.
Beore conducting any audit, consider andtake any necessary actions to ensure theollowing are addressed:
Privacy/confdentiality>
Security>
Occupational Health & Saety>
Resources/volunteers>
Approval rom building and contractors>
Walk-through audit
A walk-through audit analyses the utility
bills and briey surveys the building. Thistype o audit will identiy potential savingsand aid in implementing low cost and nocost improvements as well as planning orlonger term capital improvements whichmerit urther investigation.
Goals o walk-through audit:
Gather basic data on building structure,>systems and resource use
Identiy operational or maintenance areas>that are wasting resources
Identiy capital projects that can improve>
efciency and minimise waste
To conduct a walk-through audit and get abetter understanding o your businessconsumption patterns and opportunities orimprovements, ollow the basic steps andchecklists located in Appendix.
Detailed technical audit
I you preer not to administer a selwalk-through audit or ound signifcant
discrepancies between your utility bills andaudit estimates that require advancedassessment, you can hire a proessional toconduct a detailed technical audit. This typeo audit requires an engineer or auditingproessional who will provide a detailedassessment o your business resource useand advise on:
Opportunities to improve operating and>maintenance procedures
Opportunities to utilise alternative>sources, resource re-use options withinthe site and recycling where practical
Additional auditing assistance
Sustainability advantage
Additional efciency assistance is availablethrough the NSW Department oEnvironment and Climate Changes (DECC)Sustainability Advantage Program, includingaudit guidance. This program helpsbusinesses manage their resource use aswell as plan and implement sustainabilityplanning in the workplace. Visit the DECCwebsite or additional inormation on thisprogram: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/sustainbus/sustainabilityadvantage.htm
EnergySustainability advantage energy saver
The NSW DECCs Sustainability Advantageprogram also includes an Energy Saveroption, which is designed to help mitigaterisks relating to the potential increase inenergy costs under a national emissionstrading scheme, CPRS. Visit the DECCwebsite or more inormation: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/sustainbus/energysaver.htm
Energy eciency or small businessprogram
The Energy Efciency or Small BusinessProgram provides assistance to businesses inreducing their energy consumption andcosts. The program oers an energy auditand efciency advice, as well as rebates tobusinesses wanting to minimise their energy
consumption. http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/sustainbus/smallbusenergy.htm
Greenhouse challenge plus: energy audittools
The Department o Environment, Water,Heritage and Arts (DEWHA) has developed aseries o energy auditing tools or small tomedium sized businesses as part o theirGreenhouse Challenge Plus Program. Visittheir website to download auditing orms.
http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/challenge/members/energyaudittools.html
WaterEvery drop counts
Sydney Waters Every Drop Counts BusinessProgram provides additional waterassessment, auditing and efciencyassistance to Sydney Water customers to aidbusinesses in managing and reducing theirwater consumption. Visit the ollowingwebsite or additional inormation on thisprogram:
http://www.sydneywater.com.au/savingwater/InYourBusiness/EDCBusinessProgram.cm
WasteWaste Reduction and Purchasing Policy(WRAPP)
Detailed waste auditing inormation andtraining is available through the NSWWRAPP program. Visit the ollowing websiteor additional inormation on this program:http://www.wrapp.nsw.gov.au
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Step 5: Prioritise anaction planOnce an audit has been undertaken, it isimportant to outline the savings andefciency potential or goals. This outlinewill be the practical guide to achieving yourresource conservation targets. Whilst not alloptions are fnancially viable, outlining them
provides an opportunity or assessment overseveral years.
When planning and documenting resourceimprovement opportunities identifed in theauditing phase, it is important to assignresponsibility and a timerame. Use theollowing as a guide. The saving action planis also a good place to record your resourcebaselines, KPIs and targets this will helporganise and track your current progressand develop uture initiatives within onedocument.
Step 6: Monitor and measureYou can only manage what you canmeasure. Scheduling regular monitoring andmeasuring o progress against thedesignated targets will help assess theeectiveness o your sustainability programsand identiy areas that need improvement. Itwill also highlight any unusual activity or
discrepancies in resource use that mayrequire maintenance.
Table 14. Sample Eciency Savings Action Plan*
Current water usage
Baseline KPI Benchmark/Goal Target reduction Actual (kL/day) Timerame
30 (2007) kL/day 22.5 kL/day 25% 28.0 (Jan 09) 12-18 mo
27.5 (Feb 09)
25 (March 2009)
Water Eciency Savings Action Plan
Description Cost Savings Responsibility Timerame
Install ow restrictors on taps $1,500 2kL/day John Smith March 2009
Educational signage $200 N/A Senior Manager Feb 2009
Total $1,700 2kL/day
Current energy use
Baseline KPI Benchmark/Goal Target reduction Actual (kWh/m2) Timerame
185 (2007) kWh/m2 129.5 kWh/m2 30% 180 (Jan 09) 12-18 mo
175 (Feb 09)
125 (Mar 09)
Energy Eciency Savings Action Plan
Description Cost Savings Responsibility Timerame
Efcient lighting in common area $3,000 50 kWh/m2 Julia Smith March 2009
Educational signage $200 N/A Senior Manager Feb 2009
Total $3,200 50 kWh/m2
*Note: Sample table, not based on actual benchmarks or savings
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Step 7: Sta engagement
Sta engagement is critical to the successo any sustainability program and will be apowerul driver to change within theorganisation. Implementing the necessaryprocess changes required or sustainabilityand efciency improvements in theworkplace is dependant on the cooperation
and involvement o everyone in theorganisation. People are generally willing tocontribute to being more sustainable andefcient when they are given theappropriate inormation on how theiractions can make a dierence in improvingthe environment and help the business runmore eectively. High commitment levels bysenior management help employeecommitment and participation insustainability and efciency measures.
Suggestions to engage sta and enhancethe outcomes o your sustainability eorts:
Use common areas as orums to inorm>employees about energy, waste and watersavings techniques and companycommitment to efciency
Look or sustainability advocates in>dierent areas o the organisation to helpmonitor and implement efciencymeasures
Reward employees or new resource>saving ideas
Inorm sta o sustainability wins>
Let your sta and customers know what>steps the organisation is making to
become more sustainableJoin Government efciency programs>such as NSW Government SustainabilityAdvantage Program
Participate and celebrate national/>international environmental events such asEarth Hour and National Ride to Work Day
Education
Sta education initiatives and easy accessto the Where, When and How o yourorganisations sustainability program goalswill improve the success rate and retentiono process changes. A ew simple ways toincrease education and awareness aroundthe ofce include:
Signage and communication
Post best practice signage in key areas>such as toilets, kitchens, near copymachines and printers
Post signs noting the building or>sustainability contact that should benotifed o leaks or equipment ailures
Examples and templates or signage is>available on Sydney Waters website aspart o the Every Drop Counts program
Create a designated area or sustainability>updates and inormation, such as on thecompanys internal website or inormation
board in break rooms/kitchens
Regularly communicate sustainability>outcomes and wins to the entire company
Include sustainability updates with all>company perormance and fnancialreviews. This will reafrm theorganisations commitment tosustainability as part o businessoperations rather than it being seen as aseparate program or department
Create a sustainability newsletter or sta>and customers
Develop a mechanism or sta eedback>
and ideas or sustainability projects
Internal sustainability team
Create a sustainability team with>members rom each major departmentsuch as marketing, fnance and operations
Meet regularly with the sustainability>team and give updates on projectprogress as well as brainstorm newinitiatives
Give one or two relevant and manageable>sustainability action items to each teammember. This will assist in promotingongoing improvement measuresthroughout the organisation
Find other advocates within the>organisation who are interested insustainability to help promote processchanges to sta
There may be a ew growing pains whenimplementing processes that require sta tochange unsustainable behaviours that theyhave had or years, but do not let this
discourage or derail the companyssustainability eorts. Continuousdemonstration o management commitmentand gradual adjustments will help to showsta that sustainability measures areimportant and require a new mindset ratherthan more eort.
Rewards
Demonstrating o company andmanagement commitment to sustainabilitymeasures will go a long way in engagingsta to act sustainably. Providing incentiveprograms and rewards to employees who
actively participate in efciency andsustainability will help retain processchanges and bring more sta membersonboard. Examples o reward and incentives:
Provide a company mug to all employees>with green branding
Provide a reusable carrying bag with the>company logo to all employees
Oer public transportation incentives to>employees, i.e., discounts or make travelpasses available pre-tax
Impromptu small rewards, such as movie>tickets, to sta who turn o their
computer and monitor everyday
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Improving energy efciency makes goodbusiness sense, both economically andenvironmentally. Energy efciency measurescan reduce your operating costs as well asreduce carbon emissions contributing toclimate change. There are many win-winenergy efciency opportunities that can beimplemented in the work place.
LightingArtifcial lighting makes up a signifcantportion o electricity consumption in mostcommercial buildings. There are manycost-eective ways to reduce energyconsumption, improve energy efciency andreduce GHG emissions in existing buildings.
Eciency replacements
Replace incandescent light bulbs with>energy efcient compact uorescent light(CFL) bulbs, which use 70% less energythan their incandescent counterparts
Not to mention incandescent lights will>be banned in Australia eective as o2010, so youll be ahead o the regulationby making an immediate change
Replace EXIT signs with light emitting>diode (LED) fxtures
Replace older T-12/T-8 uorescent>lighting fxtures with new slimmer, moreenergy efcient T-5 models. Easy retroft
conversion kits are also available
Usage
Turn o lights in areas that are not>utilised
Use task lighting to supplement general>lighting
Utilise natural lighting, keep lights to a>minimum during the day in areas that arewell lit by sunlight
Clean lighting fxtures regularly>Sensors and switches
Label light switches to denote location o>lights, aiding in switching o unnecessarylighting
Avoid having several lights activated by>one switch, use separate switches oreach light
Install switch plate occupancy sensors to>automatically turn lighting o when noone is present
Install timers on outside lighting, update>timer seasonally
Section III: Actioning Sustainability
Energy Efciency
Eciency, eciency, eciencyyou dont have to pay or what you dont use!I you do nothing else ollowing these simple best practice tips
1. Switch o all energy consuming equipment should be turned o whennot in use. Install timers where necessary
2. Fix leaks repairing dripping taps, showers and toilets will save you
money on both water and energy bills
3. Schedule regular maintenance and cleaning o equipment, including,HVAC, kitchens and vehicles
4. Install energy efcient light bulbs
5. Adjust thermostat a ew degrees higher in the summer and lower in thewinter
6. Print double sided and use electronic documents rather than paper
7. Implement a recycling program (paper, plastic and glass)
8. Install water saving showerheads and taps
9. Engage sta in your sustainability eorts
10. Record and monitor your resource (energy, water and water) use, youcan only manage what you can measure
Fast act:I energy makes up aquarter o your businesscosts, then a 20% energysavings refects a 5%increase in overall prot
Other 3%
Refrigeration 11%
Office equipment4%
Water heating3%
Lighting 24%
Heating 11%
Pumping 3%
Cooling 22%
Air handling 19%
Figure 6. Energy use in Australiancommercial sector11
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Heating ventilation and airconditioning (HVAC)Heating and cooling also accounts or alarge percentage most businesses energybills. Signifcant energy savings can be madeby improving the efciency o an HVACsystem through upgrades, regularmaintenance and participating in energysavings programs.
Temperature
Program HVAC system to automatically>turn o ater hours and switch back on
during operating hours
In the summer adjust temperature to>23-25C
In the winter adjust temperature to>18-20C
When outside temperatures are 20-24C,>turn o heating or cooling i possible
Airfow
Check doors and windows have tight seals>
Keep exterior doors and window closed>during cold and hot days to prevent airloss
Open the windows and turn o system on>
nice days
I ducted HVAC system has zoning>capability, program to only conditionareas that are in use
I HVAC system does not have zoning>capabilities, shut vents in areas that arenot in use, note 80% o the vents shouldremain open while system is operational
Ensure heat producing equipment is not>located near thermostat sensors
I using a ducted HVAC system ensure>urniture, drapes and other items are clearo the vents or outlets to ensure reeairow
Utilise ans where possible. Fans help>circulate air, reducing the need or airconditioning, while remaining acomortable temperature
Maintenance
Schedule regular maintenance checks or>HVAC equipment
Perorm a pre-season check prior to the>
winter heating and summer cooling, wellmaintained systems cost less to run andprovides better perormance
For businesses with signifcant HVAC>equipment, it may be worthwhile to havethe systems proessionally audited orenergy usage and efciency
Check system is unctioning and>programmed properly, test temperaturesettings and airow
New systems
When purchasing a new HVAC system,>make sure it is the most energy efcient
model
Consult www.energyrating.gov.au or>energy efciency ratings
Depending on the age and type HVAC>system, it may be more cost eective toinstall new, more efcient equipmentprior to the old equipment ailing
When purchasing a new system, be sure it>is the appropriate size or your space anduse requirements. Systems that are toolarge or too small will not only wasteenergy but also increase your energy costs
Energy Efciency
Inecient lighting Replacement lighting Advantages and Disadvantages
Standard uorescenttubes
T5 uorescent lights,electronic ballasts andlux reectors
Advantages lower energy use
slim line
less icker and buzz
low levels of mercury
white light
long life low loss of light over lifespan
high output lights available, if needed
Disadvantages will require new ttings and ballasts
Incandescent globes Compact uorescentglobes
Advantages lower energy use
wide range of colours and sizes
long life
will t existing light sockets
and ttings
dimmable versions now available
Low voltage halogenlights
Compact uorescentglobes designed or
recessed and tracklighting
Advantages lower energy use
cheaper globesDisadvantages requires new ttings
light output not as strong, may need
additional bulbs
Low voltage halogenlights
35 w inrared coated(IRC) lamps
Advantages lower energy use
Low voltage halogenlights
Light emitting diode(LED) lamps
Advantages lower energy use
longer life globes
Disadvantages relatively new products, availability limited
more expensive globes
Table 15. Ecient lighting guide9
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Building envelopeBuilding envelope energy efciencyimprovements are important considerationswhen your acility is being upgraded. Overthe lie o a building the upront costs oenergy efciency improvements willrequently pay or themselves throughenergy savings. In the case o new
construction, it is less costly and moreefcient to do it right the frst time ratherthan make improvements later in the lie othe building.
Insulation
Install insulation in exterior walls, wall>cavities and ceilings
New technology has made the installation>o insulation into existing buildings mucheasier and less expensive
Install interior blinds/shades to provide>additional shade and minimise heatingeect o sunlight
Roong
Install roo insulation>
Consider radiant barriers and cool roofng>that reects the Suns radiant energy, andsaves money on air conditioning
Consider installing solar panels>
Windows and doors
Seal gaps around window and doorrames>with caulk
Check window and door weather stripping,>replace i missing, cracked or hard
Close gap under exterior doors i you can> see daylight underneath
Install double or triple pane windows>
Install window glazing, flms or tinting>
Insulate window rames>
Design
For a new acility, employ passive solar>design and orientation, that is positioninga building to take advantage o the sunsnatural heating and light energy as well
as shade
Optimise green interior design techniques>to minimise light, heat and cooling needs
All new building work must comply with>the Building Code o Australia energyefciency provisions
Oce equipmentIn Australia, ofce equipment consumes atleast 5% o all electricity and directly andindirectly generates 9-11 million tonnes oCO
2each year. For a typical piece o ofce
equipment, about 85% o the total energy is
used during operation mode and activestandby mode11.
General
Switch o all equipment at the end o the>day or when not in use
Switch o equipment at the wall most>ofce equipment still uses a small amounto energy even when its turned o
Use the power save mode on equipment.>By enabling power save or Energy Starsetting the equipment goes into sleepmode when not in use
Consider the location o printers,>photocopiers and ax machines whichproduce heat, i these are located near aheating or air conditioning sensor theycan lead to over cooling
Install energy saving sotware that>powers computers down ater hours orinstall timers
When purchasing new ofce equipment,>look or the Energy Star rating and energyefciency options
Computers
Turn o computers and monitors when not>
in use. A computer monitor uses up to75% o the energy powering a computer13
Disable screen savers set to sleep mode>when a computer is inactive
Purchase the most energy efcient ofce>equipment, look or Energy Star labellingand ask about the power rating andenergy efciency
Consider at screen monitors rather than>standard monitors they are more energy
and space efcientConsider using laptops rather than>desktop computers, they are more energyand materials efcient than desktopcomputers
Printers/copiers/ax
Activate energy saving mode on printers/>copiers/ax
When purchasing new copiers/printers/>ax, look or models that are the mostenergy efcient and are programmable toautomatically turn o out o businesshours
Consider removing individual printers and>utilise all-in-one printer/copiers that aredesigned or double-sided printing anduse o recycled paper
Also look or models that have toner/ink>saving modes
I copiers/printers warm-up quickly,>switch o when not in use
Print in batches. Make copies all at once>rather than multiple smaller batches eachtime you start photocopying the machineuses extra energy to get ready to operate
IT equipment
Upgrading IT inrastructure, such as servers,can also be a great way to reduce yourelectricity requirements and subsequentcarbon emissions. The key actors toconsider when purchasing new equipment:
Select the appropriate ofce and IT>equipment or your business needs, bothin the short-term and long-term
Select appropriately sized or your ofce>needs, may need proessional assessment
Select high unctioning and multitasking>equipment to avoid buying multiplepieces o equipment
Energy Efciency
Did you know:Every 1C increase on the thermostat>will increase energy use by about15% in winter
Every 1C decrease on the>thermostat will increase energy useby about 10% in summer
You can save as much as 10% a year>on your heating and cooling costs bysimply turning the thermostat backby 1C!12
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WaterFix leaking taps and showers>
Install water saving taps and showerheads>
I the hot water thermostat is adjustable,>turn it down to 55C
Promote water and energy conservation>through signage and programs such as
Every drop counts to encourageemployees to conserve water
Insulate hot water heaters and piping>
Consider installing a solar hot water heater>
Kitchens and break roomsOnly run the dishwasher when ull and be>sure to use the economy setting
Check coeemaker and kettle are not>constantly boiling
Use appropriately sized rerigerators >small bar ridges are huge energy wasters
Store pitchers o water in the rerigerator>
instead o using drink dispensers
Replace microwaves older than 5 years>
Use microwave rather than stove or oven>
For rerigerators, reezers and water>coolers, make sure there is a 15cmair-gap between the back o theappliance and wall
Check rerigerator door seals are tight, i>you can easily pull a note out rombetween the seal and rame on a closeddoor, replace the seal
TransportationEncourage and incentivise sta to utilise>public transportation
Consider purchasing hybrid and diesel>vehicles
Regularly service vehicles>
Keep tyres inated to correct pressure>
Utilise GPS systems to determine the>most efcient route and drive time
Use telecommunications rather than>travelling to meetings
Encourage and organise carpooling or sta>
Allow sta to work rom home periodically>
Energy Efciency
Australian BusinessLimited Apprentice Centre(ABLAC) Green FleetCase StudyABLAC has signifcantly reduced itstransportation carbon emissions and
uel consumption by purchasingmore efcient vehicles and osettingthe carbon emissions. By upgrading80 vehicles to more uel efcientmodels, ABLAC has reduced itscarbon emissions by almost 100tonnes/year and reduced uelconsumption costs by 20%. Theremaining carbon emissions havebeen oset by planting trees throughthe Green Fleet program.
Fast act:
Paper (including toner) is thebiggest cost o a photocopierand has the mostenvironmental impact. Besure to print double-sided,purchase recycled paper andrecycle toner cartridges14
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There are plenty o water savingopportunities in the work place.Implementing water saving and efciencymeasures will save you money and helpAustralia conserve its valuable waterresources.
Bathrooms
ToiletsInstall dual ush toilets, 6L cisterns with>a hal ush (3L) option
Check the back o the toilet bowl; i there>are signs o small leaks, get them fxed asa small leak eventuates into a bigger one
I toilets are connected directly to a ush>valve (that is, no cistern) then ensureush is 5 seconds or less
Consider reducing the water level o high>volume toilets. Note: i cistern is 9L or13L, do not reduce the water level in thecistern by more than 2L as the bowl is
designed to require more waterHand basins
Ideal would be a mixer tap (combined hot>and cold) with a ow rate o 6L/min andan aerated ow
Check tap ow rates more than 10L/min>are high ow, wasting unnecessary water
Whilst sensor taps appear good, they need>to switch o within 6 seconds, butgenerally they waste more water thanmanual taps
Install tap aerators, which allows or the>sensation o pressure without extra water
Check hot water temperature has not>been set too high
Urinals
Cistern size should be 7L or less>
Manual urinals generally use less water,>although depending on the size o theacility may not always appropriate
Check sensors are placed directly above>the urinal so that people using basins ortoilets do not accidentally trigger the
sensorSome sensors when they ail, ail in the>open position, that is, constantly ushing.It is important to check that they switcho by direct observation
Waterless urinals are available either with>a cartridge or cube. I considering this,note that it works best with wall mountedurinals and they still require maintenance,new cleaning regimes and used only inwell-ventilated areas
Showers
Ideal is a 9L aerated showerhead>
I showerhead is greater than 13L/min it>should be replaced
Place water conservation signage in>showers, contact Sydney Water EveryDrop Counts program
To get a sense o greater pressure, install>aerators to allow air to be pulled in orthe pressure sensation
KitchensAppliances
Ideal water devices are labelled under the>Water Efciency Labelling and Standards(WELS) scheme with 6 stars being thehighest ranking
Check dishwashers, washing machines,>taps and hot water heaters are rated as
high as possible
Only run dishwashers when ull>
Place signage in kitchen reminding sta>to conserve water and report leaks
Hot water
Kettles are the best or boiling water in>smaller kitchens as water is not wasted
Larger water boiler units need to be>checked as the overow valve is otenhidden. Once they get old or out oservice, they tend to leak more requently
Check that hot water heaters are>
switched o at night, install timer plug inecessary
Water Efciency
Fast act:Running hot water in thesink or 5 minutes uses thesame amount o energy asa 60-watt light bulbburning or 14 hours15
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Cooling towersIn larger complexes, air-conditioning isthrough cooling towers as opposed toindividual electric units. Never conductpersonal maintenance o cooling towers asit requires qualifed specialists. Whenapproaching cooling towers, always ollowsaety instructions and the use o a
acemask. There are however signs to assessi there are problems between services.These include:
Check that there is splatter proo guards>so that water is contained in theequipment
Ensure that the overow pipe outside the>cooling tower does not always have waterrunning through it. Whilst it is normal tohave some overow due to high salinityin the water, there should be periods otimes when it does not run
Most towers utilise a oat ball valve to>
signal or more water, check that theinternal overow pipe is not alwayscovered wasting water unnecessarily
I there is a cooling tower, get a submeter>placed on it. Regularly checking howmuch water is used in the cooling toweris important and may also result in lowerees i you can prove a higher dischargethrough cooling towers.
Garden areasMany ofce environments have eithergarden areas or water eatures. Appropriatemanagement is necessary to make the besto the aesthetics while not unnecessarilywasting water.
Water eatures require regular care andmaintenance, check the ollowing:
Overow valve is above normal water>level
Water is recycled>
Steps are taken to reduce evaporation>
Garden areas with irrigation should bechecked or leakage. Irrigation cycles shouldbe changed during the year depending onthe season and should be checked that theyare not automatically switching on everyevening.
Water harvesting
Installing a rainwater or stormwaterharvesting system requires a specialist orapproval and installation. Local councilsgenerally have individual rules or the use oharvested water in business premises and itcould be that water use is restricted togarden and outdoor areas. Internal plumbingrequires a qualifed technician andappropriate sizing. Generally speaking,harvesting systems require signifcant rooarea or appropriate use and despite this,have long payback periods.
RecyclingTechnologies in recycling are vastlyimproving; however their cost is still ahindrance. There are several types orecycling mechanisms:
Greywater which is recycling water>rom sinks (not in the kitchen) andshowers
Black water which is recycling o water>which contains organics
Recycling systems are best implemented innew buildings, as converting existing ofcespaces to allow or it is very expensive.
Fact sheetsSydney Waters Every Drop Counts BusinessProgram has a number o act sheetssuitable to assist ofce spaces become morewater efcient.
Water Efciency
CASE STUDY
Ramm Botanicals water conservation
Ramm Botanicals participated in a water conservation program led by Wyong Councilwhich targeted a 24% reduction in water use. Through a combination o installingrainwater tanks and changing their plant product oerings to a range o water-wiseAustralian native plants, Ramm Botanicals was able to exceed the Council goal andachieve a 54% reduction in their town water use. They capture 3/4 o their waterneeds through the rainwater tanks and minimise water intensity by specialising inplants that are adapted to Australias dry climate. These measures create valuablelong-term water savings or their business and also or customers who landscape withnative plant species. www.ramm.com.au
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S E C T I O N 3
Reducing resource consumption and wastegenerated rom your company are essentialcomponents o improving yourorganisations sustainability. Improvingresource efciency will conserve energy andreduce carbon emissions, as well as saveyour business money.
Monitoring and management o materials
and waste generation will also help improvethe overall efciency o your organisationthrough minimisation o time and moneyspent on purchasing and removal omaterials. The savings rom waste reductioncan be used to develop and enhance yourbusiness rather than being thrown out withthe garbage.
Waste and resource reduction measures will:
Save money>
Improve efciency>
Reduce natural resource consumption>
Reduce carbon emissions>
Waste avoidance and reductionPaper
Think beore you print. Do you really need>a printout o that document?
Set all computers in your ofce to>automatically print double-sided
Suggest using the Two-Up option when>printing (prints in a booklet style, 2 pagesper sheet o paper) in addition todouble-sided printing. This combinedwith double-sided printing will use 75%
less paper alone!I you cant print double-sided, consider>printing two sheets to a page (two-up)
Set electronic templates to a smaller ont>with larger margins
Calculate how many reams per person are>used and let sta know about ways toreduce this number
Electronic communication
Send electronic communications rather>than paper
Ask suppliers to send electronic>communications and invoices
Send electronic invoices and>communications to your customers
Mailing lists
Remove duplicate names and out-o-date>entries rom mailing lists and considerelectronic communications instead
Take steps to reduce unsolicited mail>
Design mailers which avoid the use o>envelopes (old and staple the paper)
Use electronic mail and voice mail rather>than mailers
ReuseReuse paper that has only been printed on>one side
Reuse envelopes by placing a label over>the old address
Use reusable envelopes or interofce>mail
Use outdated letterhead or in-house>memos and copies
Reuse fle olders>
Reuse cartons or shipping>
Shred newspapers and reuse or>packaging
RecyclingI you dont already have recycling>available in your ofce, contact yourwaste contractor about recycling options
Use waste audit outcomes to determine>which materials are the highest priority to
recycle and reuse
I you currently have only paper recycling,>contact your waste provider to discuss acommingled recycling service whichallows other materials such as plastic andmetal in the same bin
Replace trash bins at individual desks>with a combined recycle bin and utilise acentral waste bin. This will help remindsta to recycle more and waste less
I your ofce is small, consider combining>your recyclables with other small ofcesnearby
Provide clearly labelled recycling bins>around the ofce, especially in kitchenand break rooms
Resource Efciency and Waste Reduction
Refrain from purchasing unneccessary goods
Limit the amount of material purchased
Find alternative uses for materials rather than discarding
Collect and properly recycle materials that cannot be repurposed
Collect waste material
Dispose of waste after treatment
Avoid $
Reduce $$
Reuse $$$
Recycle $$$$
Recover $$$$$
Treat-Remove $$$$$$
Figure 7. Waste hierarchy
The best opportunities to save money Avoid and Reduce waste rom the start
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Oce supplies
Purchasing policy
Establish a purchasing policy that avours>environmentally-preerred products andsupplies and includes efciency in allpurchasing decisions
Include a clause in major purchases that>requires suppliers to take away packaging(such as, polystyrene and cardboard)
General
Review ofce supply orders or>unnecessary or duplicate items
Provide a communal location or ofce>supplies that are used inrequently ratherthan purchasing individual supplies oreach individual
Paper
Buy recycled ofce paper and stationary>
Look or carbon neutral paper and>stationary
Toners and ink cartridges
Recycle and/or refll toner and ink>cartridges
Use vegetable-based inks when printing>
Oce equipment
Purchasing energy efcient equipment,>see www.energyrating.gov.au or energyefciency ratings
Consider upgrading to an all-in-one>copier/printer, eliminating the need ormultiple smaller printers
Rent equipment used inrequently> Dispose o old equipment responsibly, look>or recycling options
Kitchen
Provide reusable mugs and utensils to>employees and clients rather than usingpaper or polystyrene cups and disposablewooden or plastic stirrers
Buy in bulk to minimise packaging with>items like coee, tea, sugar, paper, pensand notebooks
Avoid buying sachets o sugar and coee,>use a canister instead
Provide cloth towels in kitchen and>restrooms rather than using paper towels
I disposable items are required, be sure>to buy those that are made rom recycledand biodegradable materials
Customers
When promoting your business careully>select useul giveaways to avoid throwaway trinkets
Minimise the use and distribution o>
plastic bagsLet customers know your eorts to>minimise waste
Cleaning supplies
Use environmentally riendly cleaning>products, phosphate ree andbiodegradable
Involve cleaners in all company>sustainability discussions and orums,their cooperation is critical
Consider composting and worm arms or>kitchen waste i you have a gardenavailable
Building design and renovationsWhen building or renovating your acility,>utilise low waste contractors whospecialise in reuse o materials andreconstruction instead o demolition
Create a waste management plan with>the contractor prior to construction toensure waste reduction measures are
convenient and adhered toDonate old ofce urniture rather than>sending to the landfll
Use recycled materials or construction>
Use environmentally riendly materials>such as paint, urniture, fnishings andooring
Resource Efciency and Waste Reduction
Fast act12:Each tonne o paper that is recycledsaves:
Almost 13 trees>
2.5 barrels o oil>
4100 kWh o electricity>
4 cubic metres o landfll>
31,780 litres o water>
Case Study:Australian Business LimitedApprentice Centre (ABLAC)
paper and resourceeciencyIn an eort to minimise paperconsumption and increase resourceefciency, ABLAC implemented ascanning system or trackingdocuments. The electronic systemreplaced a manual paper system andhas signifcantly improved processingtime and labour efciency. The savingsbenefts include waste and paperreduction as well as cost savings. Thenew electronic system reduced paper
consumption by 30,000 sheets and theequivalent o $100K in salary by beingable to process more with the samenumber o sta.
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S E C T I O N 4
Supply ChainAll businesses rely on their supply base andcustomers to survive. Integratingsustainability principles into purchasingdecisions and managing your supply chainrom a sustainability perspective are keysteps to achieving overall sustainability oryour business. Supply chain management
considers the interactions between abusiness and its customers and suppliers.Incorporating sustainability into your supplychain involves reviewing your purchasingand production decisions rom both socialand environmental perspectives in additionto the economic considerations. Supplychain management extends as ar aspossible upstream towards raw materialsand supply purchases to downstreamtowards the consumer and then back againor product disposal and recycling.
Sustainable procurement policyDevelopment o a procurement policy canbe an eective step in managing thesustainability o your supply chain. It canalso provide economic benefts as manylarge corporations and governmentdepartments require documentation osustainability or environmental management
initiatives or tendering. Additional beneftsto sustainable supply chain managementand procurement include:
Reduced costs and increased productivity>
Reduced fnancial, regulatory and>reputation risks
Incentive to producers to develop new>sustainable products
Competitive advantage in new and>expanding markets or sustainableproducts
Meeting the expectations o the>shareholders, community and customers
Businesses with complex supply chains maywant to take urther action up and downtheir supply chain by developing a Code oConduct. This document outlines the socialand environmental principles and standardsthat the company, contractors and suppliersare expected to observe. Implementation oa Code o Conduct will also requiremonitoring and evaluation o thesustainability practices o companies withinyour supply chain.
Visit the NSW Government Green Goodswebsite or more inormation on developing
a sustainable procurement policy. http://www.greengoods.nsw.gov.au/policy/keyactions.htm
Section IV: Next Steps
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Eciency rstImproving efciency is the simplest andmost cost eective way to reduce carbonemissions and save money on utility bills.Taking advantage o opportunities tominimise consumption in all areas o yourbusiness, whether it be energy, water,supplies or paper can signifcantly reduce
negative environmental impacts and helpyour business prepare or the transition intoa low-carbon economy.
Once you have addressed the immediateefciency savings opportunities, the nextbig step is to assess larger projects outlinedin your energy savings plan. For mostbusinesses, signifcant energy efciencysavings can be obtained throughinvestments in newer, more efcientequipment and building upgrades. Todetermine which investments to make frst,look at the most energy intensive and oldestequipment in your acility. The key areas to
consider are:
Heating, air conditioning and ventilation>systems
Lighting>
Insulation>
Ofce equipment>
Rerigeration (i applicable)>
See Funding section or grants andassistance programs that may be able toprovide fnancial support or efciencyupgrades or your business.
Renewable energyOnce you have addressed the energyefciency opportunities available in yourbusiness, you may want to considerconverting to a green power or renewableenergy. Renewable energy is electricitysupplied by wind, solar, geothermal, hydroand biomass, these sources are considered
continuously renewable. These types oelectricity emit very low levels o GHGemissions compared to traditional ossil uelelectricity such as coal.
Renewable energy can be provided byinstalling equipment such as solar panels onyour building or alternatively can bepurchased rom your energy provider ratherthan ossil uel electricity. Purchasingrenewable energy can be more expensivethan traditional ossil uel based electricity,so it is important to address energyefciency measures to minimise your utilitybills. For more inormation on renewable
energy, visit the Governments accreditedgreen power website at www.greenpower.gov.au
Taking It To The Next Level
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S E C T I O N 4
Carbon osettingA carbon oset is a purchased credit thatrepresents a reduction in greenhouse gasemissions. Carbon osets are generatedthrough emissions-reducing or energyefciency projects such as tree planting orrenewable energy. The amount o carbonemissions saved through these projects is
calculated and then sold as oset credits tobusinesses or individuals to mitigate carbonemissions rom various activities such astransportation and electricity use. There aretwo types o carbon osets, those purchasedby large industries in order to comply withemissions reduction regulation andvoluntary osets purchased by businesses,individuals and governments to meet theiremission reduction goals.
Carbon oset products are largely anunregulated market, so it is important tolook or accredited providers to ensure thatosets are actually reducing carbon
emissions. In Australia, there are a ewgovernment mechanisms currently availableto assure customers o the quality o osetsthey are purchasing. For more inormationon carbon osets, visit the Department oClimate Change Greenhouse Friendlyprogram website at: http://www.climatechange.gov.au/greenhouseriendly/
Whilst purchasing carbon osets is aneective tool in managing the carbonemissions o your business, it is only oneaspect o reducing your companys carbonemissions. Implementing efciency
programs and initiatives to avoid and reducecarbon emissions in the frst place is acritical step prior to investing in carbonosets. Higher efciency will also reducethe amount o osets required, saving youmoney overall.
Carbon neutralA growing number o businesses arebecoming carbon neutral as a way odemonstrating their commitment tosustainability at the highest level. Becomingcarbon neutral means achieving net zerocarbon emissions by balancing the emissionsproduced by a business with the equivalent
amount o carbon osets, carbonsequestering projects or renewable energy.The benefts to becoming carbon neutralinclude:
Risk reduction in the transition to a>low-carbon economy
Considered market leader in sustainability>
Increased marketability, meeting>consumer demand or carbon neutralproducts and businesses
In order to become carbon neutral, thecarbon ootprint o your business must bedetermined. Carbon ootprint is a measure
o the total amount o carbon equivalentemissions generated by your businessactivities, both directly (onsite and internallyproduced emissions) and indirectly (ositeand externally produced emissions such asthose resulting up and down the supplychain). This process requires a lie cycleanalysis (LCA) o your business operationsand products