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​Environmental efficiency at Council

Redland City Council is committed to reducing its greenhouse gas emissions for the economic, environmental and social development of future generations, and to minimise the impact of the greenhouse effect.  

A brief history

Council has actively pursued voluntary greenhouse gas reductions since 1998. This journey started through our membership with the International Council for Local Environment Initiatives (ICLEI) and our involvement in their Cities for Climate Protection Program (CCP). 

As part of the CCP Program, Council achieved Milestone 5 Report [PDF 190KB] - Local Greenhouse Action Plan to improve greenhouse performance, in 2007. 

In 2010, Council prepared Climate Change Strategy Confronting Our Climate Future, a strategy to 2030 for Redland City to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, respond to climate change and achieve energy transition. This strategy contains Council’s Climate Change Policy and a Climate and Energy Action Plan 2010 – 2015. 

Click here to read Redlands Climate Change Policy and Strategy >>

The Climate Change Policy commits Council to ensure that Council and community greenhouse gas emissions are reduced to achieve at least national targets by 2050.

How is Council achieving environmental efficiency?

Setting Targets

In February 2010, Council committed to Corporate greenhouse gas reduction targets of:

  • 25 per cent reduction on 1998 emissions by 2020 
  • a further 25 per cent reduction on 1998 emissions by 2030 
  • a total of 75 per cent reduction on 1998 emissions by 2050

Implementing Efficiencies

During the last five to 10 years, Council has proactively implemented efficiencies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in areas where we have direct operational control.  

  • Corporate Buildings
    Council has improved metering arrangements, phased replacement of inefficient technology and appliances, improved building fabric to enhance thermal transfer, installed option sensitive lighting, de-lamping of lights where possible and the installation of voltage reduction systems which reduce the electricity consumption of lighting systems by up to 25 per cent. 
  • Fleet
    Council has achieved large decreases in fuel consumption through purchasing of the latest automotive and transport technology.  For example a recent shift towards greater use of highly efficient diesel passenger vehicles in place of petrol equivalents has led to significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and also financial savings to Council.

 

Measuring Council’s Carbon footprint

Council measures progress towards targets by doing a carbon audit. Since 1998, Council has completed four carbon audits, the most recent is the Carbon Footprint 2010 - A profile of Council's greenhouse gas emissions [PDF] report. By applying a specific methodology, the carbon audit informs us of our total fuel and electricity usage and our subsequent greenhouse gas emissions. 

What did the 2010 Carbon Footprint tell us?

A total of 8,306 tonnes of CO2-e greenhouse gases was emitted by Council while conducting business from its main buildings, facilities and fleet.

These emissions come from:

  • driving cars and trucks - 22.3 per cent of total emissions 
  • using electricity in our buildings – 65.9 per cent of total emissions 
  • other indirect emissions such as air travel, taxis, ferries, barges – 11.8 per cent of total emissions 
    •  

Are Council’s greenhouse gas emissions increasing or decreasing?

To answer this we have compared the carbon footprint from buildings and fleet only. We have been collecting records and monitoring emissions from these sources since 1998 and have consistent and reliable data for these sources.

Our emissions from buildings and fleet have started to decrease. Between 2008 and 2010, emissions from buildings and fleet decreased by 14.3 per cent. This is equal to an assumed emissions reduction of 7.15 per cent per year over the last two years.
Since 1998, Fleet has achieved 15.2 per cent emission reductions.
Since 1998, Buildings and Facilities have achieved 14 per cent emission reductions.  
 
However, in 2010, emissions still remain 13.2 per cent higher than 1998 emissions. For the next 10 years, Council needs to achieve an average emissions reduction of 4 per cent per year to achieve the 2020 target. This should be achievable. 
 

What’s not included in the 2010 Carbon Footprint and why?

  • Streetlighting – Council does not have operational control of street lights, although we pay for the electricity bill. There are many discussions and negotiations taking place with electricity suppliers and retailers to improve this situation.  
  • Water – Council no longer has operational control of water and Allconnex will have to report their emissions separately.  
  • Waste – Council has operational control of waste and in future carbon footprint reports, it will be included. Carbon from waste is complex and includes both corporate and community contributions, however Council is making progress to resolve complexities and include waste in the next Carbon Footprint report.

 

What’s next for Council?

  • Annual Carbon Audits
  • Education – behavior change within the office e.g. reducing water and paper usage.

Future Initiatives to further reduce our greenhouse gas emissions could involve:

  • investigating potential solar farm, 
  • biodiesel trial with our heavy fleet, 
  • electric bike fleet for local Cleveland CBD business and inspections 
  • installing solar panels on our halls