Thursday, February 23, 2012 - Electricity
An energy efficiency initiative in Sydney has proved so successful that funding has been extended for another three years.
The CitySwitch office energy efficiency program aims to lower the emissions of businesses, potentially lowering the electricity prices they pay in the process.
Clover Moore, the City of Sydney's lord mayor, explained that the commercial office buildings sector accounts for approximate half of the city's carbon pollution.
So far, the program has attracted 69 businesses in Sydney, which will all strive to achieve four-starts or more on the National Australian Built Environment Rating System for their tenancy.
CitySwitch was launched in June 2008 and by the same month last year, the initiative had verified 26,000 tonnes of carbon emission reductions.
Federal government figures recently revealed that Australia is doing well in terms of reducing emissions, as levels have fallen for the second year running.
In the year to September 2011, greenhouse emissions declined by around one per cent, which was primarily led by the electricity sector, said the Clean Energy Council.
This industry alone saw output of carbon fall by 3.2 per cent during the period.
Posted by Charlie Moore