Energy efficiency

How to save money and cool global warming

Energy efficiency is the key to saving money and reducing our greenhouse impact. 98 per cent of Australia's electricity is sourced from burning fossil fuels, mostly brown coal and natural gas, which are major sources of air pollution and greenhouse gases.

So the less we all use, the less pollution, and the less we have to pay in bills.

Bayside works for climate protection

Bayside City Council is currently taking part in part in the Cities for Climate Protection Program, joining hundreds of councils around the world taking action on global warming. Under the program council is:

• Developing an inventory of greenhouse gas emissions for the municipality
• Forecasting possible future greenhouse gases
• Developing a greenhouse gas reduction target and strategy
• Re-inventory and review.

Cities for Climate Protection represents many opportunities for economic growth and social improvement that are associated with investing in energy efficiency.

Cutting our greenhouse gas emissions is a step towards becoming a sustainable community. It involves reducing waste, choosing renewable energy, improving air quality and reducing traffic congestion. Reducing greenhouse gas emissions doesn't mean doing without, it means being smarter. Improving energy efficiency can save the council thousands of dollars per year in energy bills.

Council’s 2009/2010 Greenhouse gas emissions report has been released

Tracking and reporting on Council’s greenhouse gas emissions helps Council to look at trends and analyse emissions sources to identify potential areas for improvement. It helps track progress towards Councils goal of carbon neutrality by 2020. It also provides information to the community on Council’s key emissions sources, and the activities undertaken to reduce emissions.

Council’s reports on emissions from sources directly within its operational control (e.g. libraries, Council-run child care centres, Council’s Corporate Centre, public toilet blocks), parks and gardens lighting, waste, and fuel use for Council’s car fleet. Emissions from these sources totalled 3048 tonnes CO2-e. This is a four per cent reduction in Council’s emissions compared to 2008/2009, putting Council on track to meet its target of a five per cent emissions reduction by 2012.

Council also reports on emissions resulting from its paper use, emissions from electricity and gas at some of Council’s leased buildings, street lights and emissions from air travel. The report lists actions taken to reduce Council’s greenhouse gas emissions (e.g. improvements to heating, ventilation and air conditioning system at the Corporate Centre and replacing Brighton Boardwalk shared path lighting with LED lights).

Though not legally required to report on emissions, Council uses the National Greenhouse Emissions Reporting framework as a guide for its report.

 Bayside City Council 2009/10 Geenhouse gas emissions report (PDF, 255KB)

Page last updated: 31 Mar 2011