What you can do

Living Sustainably

Energy Smart

Did you know?

Businesses spend $6 billion on energy every year, and most of this is sourced from fossil fuels that generate greenhouse gas and cause climate change.

Commercial buildings in Australia will double their greenhouse gas emissions by 2010, to 70 million tonnes of carbon dioxide each year, unless we take action to change this now.

By adopting sustainable energy practices, workplaces can reduce energy consumption and energy costs by 15-25%.

What can I do?

Make a huge difference by introducing energy-saving initiatives at work. Workplaces that have improved their energy efficiency report a lift in productivity, boosted morale and valuable recognition for going green from consumers and clients.

Easy ways to make a difference:

Buy electricity through an approved GreenPower program – ask your current supplier to include GreenPower sources with your current energy contract
Power your events with GreenPower – you will reduce greenhouse pollution and can use this to promote your company's image
Switch appliances off at the power point, instead of leaving them on "stand-by" when you leave for the day
Buy office products such as computers, fax machines and photocopiers with an ENERGY STAR label, and make sure their ENERGY STAR power management feature is switched on
Consider energy use when you're choosing equipment – portable computers use less energy than desktop models, and most ink jet printers use less energy per page than laser printers
Check whether building systems and plant can perform more efficiently by being fine-tuned to real demands
Use less hot water, and turn the hot water system off if it's not needed for extended periods of time
Check you're not over cooling – 1°C difference in temperature between indoors and outdoors adds 10% to your energy costs and greenhouse emissions
Install energy-efficient lighting and turn off lights when you leave an area