Our journey
What City of Boroondara has achieved in the past in energy efficiency, renewable energy or broader sustainability
Since the early 1990’s, the City of Boroondara has been actively working to drive down greenhouse gas emissions. This priority has seen council involved in a variety of climate action programs like the Cities for Climate Protection, and undertake a wide range of initiatives to reduce corporate emissions. As a result, council has stabilised corporate emissions despite some expansion of facilities and services.
In 2008 – 2013 Council committed to stepping up its action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In this time the development of Council’s Our Low Carbon Future Strategy has allowed flexibility in its approach to account for the rapidly changing political and social context surrounding climate change and greenhouse gas abatement, and the emergence of new technologies and practices.
The City of Boroondara proposes two clear and ambitious targets in the strategy:
- Corporate target To reduce Council’s corporate greenhouse gas emissions by 30-40% below 2007/08 levels by 2020
- Council’s community measures target To support programs and projects with the community that achieve emission reductions of 12,400 tonnes CO2-e in the first year (2009/10) and an abatement total of at least 50,000 tonnes CO2-e by 2020
The strategy has included the development of action plans, the current action plan update (2017-2020) defines Council’s highest priority actions for implementation over the final four years (2017 – 2020) of the strategy term.
The strategy’s implementation has focused on addressing key sources of greenhouse gas emissions for Council (Council buildings, street lighting and fleet) and the community (residential and commercial emissions).
Key actions to date include:
- The installation of cogeneration at Ashburton Pool and Recreation Centre and Hawthorn Aquatic and Leisure Centre
- Municipal-wide switch to efficient streetlights on residential streets
- Adoption of the Sustainable Buildings Policy (2010)
- Installation of a 100 kW Solar PV system at Kew Recreation Centre
- Installation of a 100 kW Solar PV system at Boroondara Sports Complex
- Installation of a further 180 kW of Solar PV across other Council buildings
- Upgrade of pool heating boilers to high efficiency condenser boilers
- Upgrade of pool halls and stadiums to efficient LED lighting
- Completion of stage 2 of the municipal-wide switch to efficient streetlights
- A recent major initiative has been the implementation of an Energy Performance Contract, which has seen seven of Council’s high profile sites receive upgrades to high efficiency lighting, efficient heating and cooling and mechanical equipment, to reduce energy consumption and associated emissions. This project will return guaranteed financial and emission savings to Council.
Community actions are focused on supporting residential energy efficiency programs to drive household uptake of energy efficient lighting, low flow shower heads, solar hot water and rooftop photovoltaic panels.
What City of Boroondara hopes to achieve in the future in energy efficiency, renewable energy or broader sustainability
The Our Low Carbon Future Strategy runs until 2020 with Councils 30-40% emissions reduction target also for 2020. In the lead up to the final year of the strategy, Council will continue to investigate and invest in energy efficiency and renewable energy opportunities.