Purchasing decisions for cars, solar panels or computer monitors can have a huge impact on the environment as well as save money. Combined with sensible practices such as placing energy saving settings on staff computers you can make a real impact on the environment.
Frankston City Council found that to change the settings on the computers, it could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 7.5 tonnes a year, the equivalent of taking two cars off the road, and it reduced electricity costs by $750 annually.
Council is leading by example of sound environmental buying. Not only has it introduced a range of sweeping and innovative initiatives throughout the community, it is also dedicated to making its own day to day organisational operations more sustainable.
Frankston has become heavily involved in the Municipal Association of Victoria’s ECO Buy green purchasing program, spending more than $2.5 million during the last financial year on recycled, greenhouse friendly, water saving, non toxic and environmental products.
Major purchases include a Toyota Prius hybrid electric car as well as additional LPG and fuel efficient staff vehicles. Other items included solar panels, energy saving computer monitors, rainwater tanks, shower and tap flow regulators and timers, energy efficient lighting, as well as recycled paper, envelopes and other stationery.
Council has installed park bench seats made from recycled plastic and constructed the Seaford boardwalk from recycled plastic derived from drink bottles.
Chief Executive Officer, Steve Gawler, said to recycle effectively, we not only need to recycle our waste but to also purchase items made of recycled materials.
“We are achieving this through our participation in ECO Buy, the largest Victorian Local Government green purchasing program,” he said.
Environmental Education Officer, Alison Winn, said an ECO Buy representative showed us the benefits of using recycled plastic pipeline which was strong enough to take the weight of a forklift and light enough for one person to carry.
“We were also shown an amazing recycled materials such as clothing off cuts manufactured into weed mats, and soft fall recycled rubber for children’s playgrounds. They also have products that you may never have thought of, including non toxic varnishes, green printers and electric cars.”
Frankston City Council is now considering introducing a digital tracking system for green purchases to increase staff awareness of green materials and to report accurately on Council’s environmental expenditure.
Clauses will also be included in all tenders specifying environmental considerations. Additionally, Council has formed a green office team to improve environmental practice within Council’s facilities, raise staff awareness of the environmental impacts of daily practices and provide environmentally responsible alternatives.
Recently, Green Office Week provided a fun way to encourage staff to engage in simple behavioural changes to conserve their use of resources in the office.
The Green Office Team assisted colleagues with placing energy saving settings on computers, defaulting to double sided printing and encouraged simple things like turning lights and printers off at the end of the day.
