ACT government targets carbon neutrality

The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) government is aiming to make its operations carbon neutral by 2020.

Environment Minister Simon Corbell announced that a new framework will be implemented and a wide-ranging buildings audit the first step.

Corbell said: “The ACT Government contributes five per cent of the territory’s greenhouse gas emissions and we intend to lead by example, reducing our emissions and achieving carbon neutrality across all government operations and services by 2020.”

The new framework will track government building energy performance by measuring, monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through the ACT Government Enterprise Sustainability Platform.

Two energy efficiency officers have been employed to assist directorates in reducing building energy consumption.

An HVAC control upgrade at Belconnen Library has reduced electricity consumption by 29 per cent and natural gas by 30 per cent.

The ACTSmart Government Energy and Water Program provides tailored energy and water efficiency advice and assistance and is also helping to meet the 2020 carbon neutrality goal, with 107,000 square metres of space across 53 sites having been assessed from June this year.

The government is also planning to make the whole territory carbon neutral by 2060 and is targeting a 90 per cent renewable energy share in its energy mix by 2020.