Council switching off for Earth Hour
All non-essential lights at three of Council’s top energy-consuming buildings – the Alfred Deakin Centre, Deakin Avenue Service Centre and Madden Avenue Service Centre will be switched off between 8:30pm and 9:30pm this Saturday 26 March 2011.
Council is encouraging local residents and businesses to do the same and also turn off non-essential electrical appliances in a bid to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emitted through electricity consumption – one of the main energy sources of greenhouse gas emissions.
Portfolio Councillor for Environment Glenn Milne said this was the fourth year Council would participate in Earth Hour and said it was one of the many ways the organisation was working to reduce its impact on the environment.
“As part of its Greenhouse Action Plan 2007-2012, Council set a target to lower its corporate greenhouse emissions by 20% based on 2005/06 levels by 2011/12 and work towards stabilising per capita community greenhouse gas emissions at 2001 levels by 2011/12,” he said.
“We on track to achieve these ambitious goals thanks to a number of practical measures Council has undertaken in recent years such as considering energy efficiency in our IT specifications.”
Council has also implemented the Switch IT Over program which prioritises green IT practises and reviewed rural waste management services to make energy savings where possible.
The implementation of these actions has resulted in Council achieving an 18.6% reduction in annual greenhouse gas emissions to date since our 2005/06 baseline year.
Over the next two years Council hopes to reach its 20% reduction in carbon emissions by implementing more actions outlined in the Greenhouse Action Plan.
“We will continue to install timers for lighting in Council buildings as we have already done at the Benetook Depot and the Deakin Avenue Service Centre and will be investigating installation of solar hot water heating at other Council-owned buildings,” Cr Milne said.
While Council is participating in Earth Hour, the organisation also plans to go beyond the hour to make sustainable changes for the future. Cr Milne encouraged others to do the same and to visit www.sustainablemildura.com.au for simple ideas and tips on how they can reduce their carbon footprint at home.