Energy - switching off and turning on green power

The Office of Environment and Heritage (OEH) has several programs in place to improve energy efficiency and conserve power across the organisation. OEH is committed to obtaining and reporting annual office energy ratings for all OEH owned and tenanted offices over 1,000 square metres under the National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS).

The OEH Sustainability Action Plan drives strategic energy efficiency improvements in OEH buildings. Energy audits of major facilities led to the upgrading of lighting systems in major office blocks in Sydney, Newcastle and Wollongong. Smaller regional offices such as Gosford, Dubbo, Queanbeyan and others have also installed energy efficient lighting systems.

Our current NABERS Energy tenancy ratings for metered offices are:

• 59 Goulburn Street, Sydney - 4.5 stars (3.5 stars without GreenPower)
• 43 Bridge Street, Hurstville - 5 stars (5 stars without GreenPower)
• 10 Valentine Avenue, Parramatta - 4.5 stars (4 stars without GreenPower)
• 1 Fitzwilliam Street, Parramatta - 5.5 stars (5 stars without GreenPower)
• 24 Moonee Street, Coffs Harbour - 6 stars (5 stars without GreenPower)

Energy efficient lighting and heating systems are incorporated into the design of new OEH buildings. The National Parks Facilities Manual requires energy conservation features such as compact fluorescent lamps, motion sensors, cut-out switches and use of natural lighting and ventilation.

OEH is also purchasing energy from renewable sources. GreenPower accounted for 12.9 per cent of all energy purchased in 2010-2011, above the Government minimum of 6 per cent. Currently over 300 sites across the organisation purchase GreenPower, ranging from major office blocks through to visitor centres, workshops, laboratories and park amenity blocks. Solar panels are used where appropriate to power remote sites such as weather stations or supplement mains electricity supplies.