GREENHOUSE TIPS

Greenhouse Challenge Plus members have found that staff are encouraged by the visible signs of management commitment to Greenhouse Challenge Plus.

Use the following greenhouse tips to motivate staff to take greenhouse action, creating a sense of shared responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions within your organisation.

Many of these simple actions can produce significant greenhouse and financial savings, mostly at minimal cost or none at all. The tips listed here encourage staff to take action at home as well as at work, setting in motion broader cultural change to abate greenhouse gases.

You can use these tips in a range of ways:

OFFICE TIPS

Activate Energy Star mode on computers and save electricity
Energy Star is an energy efficiency standard available on most office equipment (personal computers, photocopiers, fax machines and printers). It is a programmable function that switches office equipment into low power mode when not in use. Enabling Energy Star on one personal computer saves on average $25 and about 200 kilograms of carbon dioxide per annum (equivalent to driving a car 1000 kilometres). See your computer administrator about how to enable this feature. Also, check the website at www.greenhouse.gov.au/appliances for more information on energy efficient equipment.

Turn off your computer screen
By turning off your computer screen when leaving your desk for more than 15 minutes, you can save more than 50 per cent of the energy that would have been consumed by your computer in your absence.

Switch off equipment at the end of the day
Remember to switch off your computer at the end of the day, as well as nearby printers and photocopiers, if you are the last person leaving the area. Even leaving them on stand-by will waste electricity if they are not going to be used until the next morning.

Reduce paper use
Reduce your use of paper by encouraging staff to reuse paper and to print documents on both sides of a page where possible. This will save you money, as well as reduce emissions through less production, transport and disposal of paper waste. In printers and fax machines recycle paper by keeping one tray filled with paper that has been printed on one side only. Clearly mark the tray to avoid confusion. It’s a good idea to keep a stack of used paper ready to fill the tray when low.

Use electronic documentation
Design and develop electronic document management systems to reduce the need to print hard copies of documents. This will save you money on paper and office equipment replacements, such as printer cartridges. Electronic document management systems can also produce efficiencies by saving time in sharing information, updating documents, obtaining approvals, and tracking information.

Turn off lights when not needed
In all workplaces, there are areas that are not used continuously, commonly meeting rooms, computer rooms, conference areas and storerooms. Turning off a light is perhaps the simplest way to conserve energy and save on electricity bills. A simple message placed in a prominent place near the exits can remind staff to follow this practice.

Install efficient lighting
Lighting can be a significant contributor to energy use and costs. There are a number of ways to reduce the amount of energy used, such as through the use of equipment like timers and motion sensors that turn off lights when not needed, and high efficiency lamps such as (compact fluorescent globes) which use less energy per unit of output. You can also have a lighting audit conducted, which will rate your overall lighting needs and match them to the most efficient lighting system available.

Try video and telephone conferencing
Where practical, conduct meetings using video or telephone conferencing. This will not only save transport costs and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but also save you a significant amount of time. Contact your local telecommunications providers to find out more about these alternative conference options.

Install a timer on your boiling water system
Install a seven-day timer on your boiling water system, a simple plug-in timer will often be sufficient. Most offices are occupied only 50 to 60 hours out of 168 hours per week (or about one third of the time). An automated timer can save up to 50 per cent of the electricity used for boiling water, and reduce the pressure placed on your hot water system.

Implement a recycling programme
Set up a recycling programme for collection of waste such as paper and cardboard, glass and recyclable plastic (co-mingled waste), and food scraps (organic material). Identify paper, co-mingled and organic bins with clearly marked labels, and make sure to locate bins together with a general waste bin, so that staff can separate their waste appropriately in one location.

By organising a roster for staff members to collect and appropriately dispose of recyclable waste materials, the workload is shared and the sense of personal responsibility is increased. Ask for staff to volunteer to champion and coordinate the programme in each area of your workplace.

Forming such habits in the work environment may even flow over to the home environment. For food scraps, you might invest in a worm farm and use the castings for your garden or offer them to your staff for use in their gardens.

Reduce canteen waste
Reduce the amount of waste in the canteen by limiting foods sold with excessive packaging, and by making sure that there are clearly marked bins for paper, co-mingled materials, food waste, and general waste. Purchase a sufficient amount of durable kitchen equipment for staff meals, including utensils and mugs, and educate your staff about the relevance of these measures.

TRANSPORT TIPS

Promote public transport use
As public transport produces less greenhouse gas emissions per passenger than cars, encourage staff to use public transport and leave their cars at home. Make choosing public transport easy by providing your staff with maps and timetables of the services available in your area. Consider subsidising public transport ticket costs to make using public transport a more appealing travel option.

Encourage carpooling
The average car produces 4500 kilograms of greenhouse gas emissions per annum. As most people drive to work by themselves, a car pool to or from work (or both) can reduce greenhouse gas emissions as well as save money on petrol and parking costs. Management can encourage carpooling by visibly endorsing the concept and allowing a nominated staff member to spend a few hours per week coordinating the programme. Posting a map with staff details and travel requirements on a central notice board can be helpful, and your company might also consider allocating a certain number of parking spaces only to cars carrying three or more passengers.

Join Greenfleet
Greenfleet will plant enough trees to absorb the carbon dioxide emissions your car produces in one year. Trees absorb, or sequester, carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow. Think about signing your car fleet to Greenfleet, and promote it to staff. For information contact Greenfleet at www.greenfleet.com.au or call 03 5664 2354. Note: Greenfleet membership cannot be used as a quantitative abatement measure for the purposes of Greenhouse Challenge Plus.

Promote Greenhouse Friendly™ Fuel
Greenhouse gas emissions from BP Ultimate™ are released during exploration extraction, processing and transportation, but most result from driving your motor vehicle. BP offsets the emissions generated from all BP fuel card sales of BP Ultimate™.

FACTORY TIPS

Reduce steam pressure
Steam will leak out of a high-pressure steam system at a much faster rate than a low-pressure steam system. To minimise losses, let your staff know to keep the system pressure as low as possible. If only one piece of equipment requires high-pressure steam, then you may consider running a separate steam line to that unit, keeping the rest of the system operating at the lower pressure. This will save money on energy as well as improve efficiency.

Encourage staff to report steam leaks
Encourage staff to report steam leaks and ensure they are repaired promptly to save on your energy bills and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Organise a central reporting mechanism for observed leaks if you do not already have one, and educate staff to use this system appropriately.

Repair compressed air leaks
Compressed air use can be often expensive. For an average compressed air system a two-millimetre hole in an air line can cost more than $1000 and generate over 10,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide per annum. Stopping such leaks not only reduces energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions but can also reduce noise. Encourage staff to mark compressed air leaks and promptly report them to a supervisor or maintenance staff for repair.

Monitor operational efficiency
Inefficiencies in equipment do not always announce themselves, but quietly reduce the integrity of a system. To check for hidden inefficiencies, operate a regular metering and monitoring programme to measure key resource inputs against production outputs. For example, if you normally use 10 kilograms of steam per unit of production and this suddenly increases to 12 kilograms, this shows that resources are being wasted. This kind of checking has been shown to save up to 2.5 per cent of energy costs.

Optimise condensate return
Maximising the condensate return of your steam system will improve overall system efficiency. When steam condensate returns to the boiler, it may still be as hot as 95°C, which takes much less energy to convert to steam than cold water. Reusing condensate can also recapture chemicals added to the system. An increase of condensate return by 10 per cent will improve boiler efficiency by one per cent.

Turn off machinery when not in use
Where practical turn off machinery when not in use (such as during meal breaks) or when the plant is not operating (overnight, weekends and public holidays). Even keeping machinery on stand-by can use a significant amount of energy that can be easily avoided. Nominate a staff member or a specific job function to check that machinery is turned off when not in use, or install an automatic timer to turn machinery off.

Set air temperature appropriately
With air conditioners one of the largest energy consumers in the office, it is important to set the thermostat level correctly to minimise energy consumption and reduce running costs. Each degree you lower the thermostat on your air conditioner can increase running costs by up to 15 per cent, so remember not to run your air conditioner colder than necessary. When purchasing a new air conditioner, try to choose one with an adjustable thermostat to give you more control over your temperature settings.

Install efficient lighting
If you have incandescent lamps, replace them with compact fluorescents to save up to 75 per cent of electricity consumption and costs. Survey your incandescent lights (particularly 60 to 100 watt bulbs used several hours a day) for opportunities to replace them with compact fluorescents. Measure the clearance in the fixtures to make sure they will accommodate compact fluorescents, which are slightly bigger than incandescents.

Lower water heater temperature
Turn down the temperature of your hot water heater to 60 degrees Celsius. Rather than adding cold water to make your hot water usable, why not just lower the overall temperature. This will help avoid scalding as well as reduce your water heating costs, which can be a significant component of overall energy bills.

Install AAA-rated showerheads
AAA-rated showerheads use approximately half the water of conventional showerheads and still provide a good quality shower. Energy and water savings from AAA-rated showerheads typically amount to between $50 and $100 per annum and 800 kilograms of carbon dioxide per year. AAA-rated showerheads are available from most plumbing and hardware shops and are easily installed.

Install tap flow restrictors
Installing flow restrictors on your taps will not only reduce your water bill but also the energy bill through using less hot water. Flow restrictors or aerators provide just the right flow through taps for washing. Visit your local plumbing supplier to see what products they have available.

Buy green power
Green power is electricity that has been produced from renewable resources such as wind, solar energy, and biomass. Most electricity retailers now offer a green power product at a premium to their customers. When you chose to buy green power you are achieving an immediate greenhouse saving as electricity generated from fossil fuels such as coal and gas produces greenhouse gas emissions, whereas electricity generated from renewable resources produces none. Contact your local electricity supplier and ask them if they offer a green power product.

Keep your fridge well maintained
Refrigerators that are well maintained use less energy. Even though refrigerators have to run constantly, you can still reduce the energy consumption and costs on one of the highest electricity consuming appliances in the home by keeping it in good condition. Locate your refrigerator in a cool area and keep it well ventilated, keep the coils clean, defrost it regularly and ensure the door seals are in good condition.

Insulate your electric water heater
Your hot water tank is constantly losing heat from the stored water. Reduce this loss by covering it with an insulating blanket. Check if your water heater has one. If not, an insulating blanket will pay for itself in one year or less. Talk to your local hardware store or insulation supplier.
(Note: do not install on gas units because the pilot light must not be covered.)

Insulate hot water pipes
Insulate hot water pipes and heating ducts wherever they are exposed to cool temperatures to reduce your energy costs. The cost of insulation will pay for itself by reducing your water and space heating costs. Insulation can also help stop pipes freezing in winter.

Buy the features you need
Many appliances have features that you may not want, but which significantly increase the cost of running that appliance. For example, automatic icemakers increase running costs of a refrigerator. Think carefully about what features you want in a new appliance, and what you do not need. Shop around until you find one with only the features you do want and it will be more suited to your needs.

Buy the size you need
In general, the larger the appliance, the more energy it will require to run, so think carefully about what size and what capacity appliance you require. When an appliance runs below capacity, it is less efficient than a smaller model running at full capacity. Shop around to find out about variations in capacity and size of appliances and buy the appliance most suited to the task it will fulfill.

Upgrade the star rating
All new dishwashers, gas heaters, washing machines and other major appliances have energy star rating systems. When buying new appliances, check the energy rating and consider an upgrade if the long term energy savings will recoup any extra expense. Upgrading the energy rating of appliances by just one star can save a significant amount of energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions over the life of the appliance.

Keep your car fleet serviced
Regular servicing of your car fleet will not only optimise fuel use but also reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. When a car is serviced regularly, it uses less fuel and produces less pollution as fuels burn more completely.

Buy a fuel-efficient car
When purchasing a new vehicle consider the fuel efficiency of the vehicle and what capacity and size you require. More fuel-efficient vehicles can save you hundreds of dollars each year in fuel costs, as well as reduce greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution. The fuel consumption guide for new cars, published each year, make an informed choice. The guide is at www.greenhouse.gov.au/fuelguide/index.html

Choose a green fuel
Using compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in your car can produce up to 15 per cent less greenhouse emission than petrol.

GENERAL TIPS

  1. Use the temperature controls on your air conditioner. Do not set temperature at levels colder than required.
  2. If you have incandescent lamps, replace them with fluorescent ones to save up to 75 per cent of electricity consumption and costs.
  3. Turn down the temperature of your water heater to save on energy bills and avoid the risk of scalding.
  4. Install a water-saving, AAA-rated showerhead and save between $50 and $100 per year through reduced water use and lower electricity bills - you will recoup your initial outlay in one to two years.
  5. Reduce your water and electricity consumption costs by installing flow restrictors on your taps.
  6. Buy green power - electricity produced from renewable resources - for immediate greenhouse savings.
  7. By keeping your refrigerator in good condition, you can reduce your electricity bill and keep your perishables fresher for longer.
  8. Invest in insulation for hot water pipes and heating ducts where they are exposed to cool temperatures to reduce your energy costs.
  9. When buying new appliances, don't choose ones with extra features that you don't need.
  10. When buying new equipment, bigger is not always better. Save money and energy by purchasing the size and capacity that best suits your needs.
  11. Upgrading your major appliances by even just one energy star point will reduce your energy costs and usage.
  12. Keep your workplace warmer in winter and reduce your heating bills by sealing any leaks and gaps through which heat can escape or draughts can get in.
  13. Save on your car fuel costs by keeping it regularly serviced.
  14. Make ongoing savings on fuel by choosing a more fuel-efficient vehicle when buying a new one.
  15. Save up to 15 per cent of greenhouse gases by converting your vehicle to run on CNG or LPG.

INFORMATION SHEETS

To find out more ways that you and your staff can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, download the Greenhouse Challenge Plus information sheets for the areas relevant to your business.