Redland Shire Council in south east Queensland has recently completed a successful local business eco-efficiency pilot program. Based on the Queensland Environmental Protection Agency’s ‘ecoBiz’ program, the pilot was recently awarded the Local Government Initiative of the Month by the International Council of Local Government Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI).
To meet Council’s sustainable business initiatives and also the requirements of Cities for Climate ProtectionTM, Council launched the Redland ecoBiz program in November 2004. To encourage involvement of local businesses in the pilot program, Redland commissioned Energetics, an energy and environmental consultancy, to provide six months of consultancy support to the seven participating businesses.
“Redland is the first community in Queensland to implement the ecoBiz program,” said Redland Mayor, Councillor Don Seccombe. “You [seven participating businesses] should all feel proud of the substantial improvements achieved throughout the program. I sincerely hope that you will benefit from your hard earned role model positions for the Redland community and that the community at large are encouraged by your leadership.”
The pilot has accomplished outstanding eco efficiency improvements with considerable benefits to the businesses and the environment. Alchemy Cordial has diverted 12 bins of waste from landfill each year. Redland Nursery is saving approximately 20,000kWh of energy annually through pump upgrades and Stradbroke Ferries has reduced its water use by 50 per cent in three months.
Meanwhile, Darwalla Milling is concentrating on shed upgrade projects to reduce substantial amounts of energy, The Good Guys is recycling 90 per cent of office waste and is developing an eco efficient appliance customer awareness program, Sirromet Wines has installed variable speed drives into their glycol system to reduce energy and Sheldon College has conducted an energy efficiency awareness program for staff and students.
Joining the ecoBiz program in January 2005, Council, including the Over 50s Donald Simpson Leisure Centre, concentrated on energy efficiency and upgrades of lighting systems and is achieving 18 per cent per annum reduction in energy costs.
Council is holding a forum on 20 June 2005 to promote the results and achievements of the Redland 2004–05 ecoBiz pilot program and to launch the 2005–06 Redland ecoBiz program. For more information on the program and the final ecoBiz forum, contact Peter Briggs at peterbri@redland.qld.gov.au or (07) 3829 8208, or Meg Webster at Energetics Pty Ltd, email websterm@energetics.com.au or visit websterm@energetics.com.au or phone (02) 9492 9510.
