DIMA Annual Report 1996-97

Supplementary statement 7 — Environmental matters

7a Australian Heritage Commission Act 1975 – Section 30(1) action

The Department did not take any property action that might affect a place in the register.

7b Environment Protection (Impact of Proposals) Act 1974 – Section 6 action

The Department did not take any action that might give effect to or take account of the outcomes of, procedures approved under section 6 of the Act.

7c General requirements

The main energy-consuming assets for which the Department pays a contribution towards the operating costs are buildings, computers and other IT equipment, vehicles and air travel.

For the period 1 July 1996 to 30 June 1997, the Department used 35 617 950 megajoules of electricity and 182 614 megajoules of gas, a total of 35 800 564 megajoules. The figures for 1995–96 were 35 921 567, 274 000 and 36 195 567 megajoules respectively.

This energy usage covers all general purpose office facilities across Australia.

The Department also took initiatives to improve work practices and purchasing policies. The Department has implemented a plan whereby energy-efficient equipment is purchased, and has encouraged and reinforced the practices of the long-established recycling program (eg paper products, toner cartridges), and turning off energy consuming items in the office (eg lights, copiers, PC's, printers).

In addition, the Department has implemented improved controls for lighting (eg separate lighting for rooms which are not in constant use) and airconditioning so that these operate only when needed.

The Department is seeking advice on industry best practice in building energy efficiencies, so that energy efficient building controls, and work practice and recycling improvements can continue.

The Central Office operations will be the pilot for this review, with implementation in other offices to follow.

Purchasing practices will continue to ensure that only low energy consuming appliances and equipment is bought.

7d Buildings

The Department seeks modern energy efficient features in new building leases. It improves the energy efficiency in its building tenancy area refurbishments by utilising energy efficient lighting.

Also, lighting relamping maintenance utilises the latest lower consumption light tubes. These approaches apply to the management of energy in privately leased and Commonwealth owned buildings.

The same energy efficiency standards are applied in Commonwealth owned premises, in relation to maintenance and work practices. Where currently not in place, separate electricity meters are being sought for Commonwealth owned buildings.

The Department will meet the Government's energy reduction targets of consumption units per person for tenant light and power, and per square metre for central services over the required period 1997 to 2003.

The Department will also act in accordance with the National Waste and Recycling Strategy and the National Cleaner Production Program initiatives.

7e Transport

The summary of the Department's devolved motor vehicle structure is as follows:

Number of vehicles leased:

Executive vehicles	61
Passenger vehicles	113
Commercial vehicles	15
Total	189

Litres of fuel used:

Executive vehicles	163 319
Passenger vehicles	227 523
Commercial vehicles	28 343
Total	412 185

All the above vehicles are leased and maintained under DAS Fleet arrangements, with the total fuel usage being included in the hire arrangements.

Monitoring of fuel consumption has resulted in an 18 per cent (cf three percent in the previous year) reduction in fuel consumption.

7f Equipment

All simple purchasing in the Department is undertaken using period contracts which incorporate energy rating details.

The Department used energy rating and environmental criteria in selecting Canon as its supplier of leased photocopying machines.

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