The EPA has a range of initiatives in place to reduce the organisation's
impact on the environment, and has already achieved significant
improvements in an number of areas.
Energy reductions
- Lighting audit of EPA's head office at 77 Grenfell Street,
Adelaide, reducing the number of fluorescent lights in use and
progressively replacing older tubes with newer more energy efficient
ones
- Movement sensors installed in all offices and meeting rooms
- Night lighting minimised throughout the head office building
- Replacing hot water heaters in kitchens with kettles
- Timers installed on photocopiers to ensure they power down
after business hours
- Computer monitor screens replaced with thin film transistor
screens, resulting in a 37% energy reduction from this source
- Automatic power down and sleep modes installed on all computer
monitors
- Faxes and printers reduced in number by replacing them with
multi-function devices
The above initiatives have led to a 19% reduction in energy use
from 2003-04 to 2006-07.
Vehicles
The EPA needs to maintain a fleet of vehicles in order to undertake
site visits and inspections, and other EPA business. At 30 June
2007, the EPA maintained a fleet of 35 vehicles. Of these, 22
are either dedicated LPG or dual fuel vehicles.
CO2 emissions from EPA vehicles has been reduced from 194 tonnes
in 2002-03 to 144 tonnes in 2006-07. The EPA monitors the use
of LPG versus unleaded fuel in dual fuel cars and has set a policy
target of 20% maximum unleaded fuel usage.
Travel
The EPA has implemented a travelsmart workplace program, which
encourages staff to use public transport for work and private
travel, as well as encouraging staff to walk as a sustainable
mode of transport. A Bicycle Users Group supports those staff
wanting to cycle to and from work.
Purchasing
- Recycled paper purchased for use in photocopiers and printers
- Printers have double-sided printing options
- Electrical products to have greenstar and energy efficient
ratings
- Packaging returned or recycled
Waste Management
- In 2006-07, 10.8 tonnes of paper diverted from landfill.
- 1283kg of waste printing consumables diverted from landfill
since 2002
- 10,000 litres of recyclable cans, bottles and cartons collected
since 2002.
- Fluorescent lighting tubes recycled - more than 1000 since
2003
- 1125kg of kitchen waste composted annually
This page was last modified 20-11-2007
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