Sustainability Toolkit Office

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nswbusinesschamber.com.au

Invigorating Business Skills

March 2009

Sustainability Toolkit Oces

nswbusinesschamber.com.au

Invigorating Business Results

March 2009


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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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4 > nswbusinesschamber.com.au

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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S E C T I O N 1

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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S E C T I O N 1

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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S E C T I O N 2

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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S E C T I O N 2

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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S E C T I O N 2

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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S E C T I O N 2

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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S E C T I O N 3

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


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


cheaper globesDisadvantages requires new ttings

light output not as strong, may need

additional bulbs


35 w inrared coated(IRC) lamps



Light emitting diode(LED) lamps


longer life globes

Disadvantages relatively new products, availability limited

more expensive globes

Table 15. Ecient lighting guide9


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S E C T I O N 3

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


22/50


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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S E C T I O N 3

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

Documents

Sustainability Toolkit Office