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Appendices

Appendix seven. Environmental performance

DPI has continued to dedicate significant resources to refine its environmental performance monitoring, leading to increased ability to identify opportunities for improvement.

In 2009-10, a range of strategies led to further reductions in water, waste, paper and fleet use across DPI operations.

The department’s environmental reporting approach is in line with whole-of-Victorian Government Financial Reporting Direction (FRD) 24C. DPI exceeds statutory requirements to report on office-based activities, providing data on all operational activities. The Commissioner for Environmental Sustainability has commended the efforts of DPI in this regard.

Environmental performance highlights for 2009-10:

• Energy intensity has reduced by a further three per cent to an 11 per cent reduction compared to 2005–06.
• Total fleet kilometres reduced by a further three per cent and total fleet greenhouse gas emissions reduced by a further one per cent compared to 2008–09.
• Overall water usage decreased by 35 per cent compared to 2008–09.
• Total paper use decreased by four per cent compared to 2008–09.

Energy

DPI energy use (electricity, natural gas and LPG) is measured and reported for office and non-office buildings across the state. This covers all DPI activities, including energy intensive research, farming and agricultural plant breeding.

DPI has further increased the level of metered data to cover 86 per cent of sites, representing over 97 per cent of staff.

In 2009-10, DPI continued to reduce total energy use, measured in Megajoules, with a reduction of one per cent compared to 2008-09. This was mirrored in energy use per FTE. Energy intensity, measured in Megajoules used per square metre of floor area, reduced by three per cent, due to ongoing implementation of efficiency initiatives and refinement in floor area calculations. A significant reduction in LPG consumption is due to operational improvements at a number of major sites.

DPI is continuing to invest in energy performance reporting on a site-by-site basis, rolling out an electricity sub-metering project to separate office usage from research and operational usage at major sites across the state.

The department’s environmental roadmap includes a multi-year plan to better attribute energy use at sites to functional areas. This is improving DPI’s ability to identify opportunities for incremental improvement.

The department’s Eco Office Challenge is continuing to drive energy efficiency through behaviour change programs such as switch off campaigns and the 4-R principle – reduce, reuse, recycle, rethink.

Table 1: Energy use indicators

Description	Unit of Measure	Actual 2009-10	Actual 2008-09	Change	Trend
Total energy usage (all sources)	Megajoules	90,516,719	91,384,726	-1%	Improving
- Energy use – LPG	Megajoules	4,291,904	5,042,137	-15%	Improving
- Energy use – natural gas	Megajoules	25,417,622	25,484,358	0%	Stable
- Energy use – electricity	Megajoules	60,807,193	60,858,230	0%	Stable
Total greenhouse gas emissions	Tonnes of CO2 equivalent	23,881	23,953	0%	Stable
- GHG from LPG energy use	Tonnes of CO2 equivalent	280	329	-15%	Improving
- GHG from natural gas energy use	Tonnes of CO2 equivalent	1,456	1,460	0%	Stable
- GHG from electricity energy use	Tonnes of CO2 equivalent	22,145	22,163	0%	Stable
Green Power purchase	Percentage of total electricity	25	20	25%	Improving
Units of energy used per FTE	Megajoules per FTE	38,247	38,614	-1%	Improving
Units of energy used per unit of office space (intensity)	Megajoules per m2	494.54	511.71	-3%	Improving
Percentage of staff included	Percentage of FTE	97	97	0%	Stable
Percentage of sites included	Percentage of sites	86	85	1%	Improving
Green Power – cost	Dollars per annum	115,100	102,334	12%	Improving

Notes

• Because energy billing cycles do not align with statutory reporting requirements, DPI energy use indicators relate to a 12-month period from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010.
• Energy use represents all DPI activities, including research, farming and plant breeding.
• Calculations are based on FTE of 2,366.65 and building area of 183,031 square metres (office and non-office buildings).

Targets

Target: Increase Green Power electricity purchases to achieve whole-of-government target of 25 per cent Green Power purchase by July 2011.

Result: Achieved. DPI increased its purchase of Green Power to 25 per cent in 2009-10, one year ahead of target.

Target: Progressively reduce energy intensity in DPI facilities to achieve whole-of-government five per cent reduction target (compared to 2005-06) by July 2010.

Result: Achieved. Energy intensity reduced by a further three per cent in 2009-10. This represents an overall improvement of 11 per cent compared to 2005-06.

Chart 1: DPI energy intensity (MJ/m2)

Water

DPI water use is divided into dedicated office locations and other locations representing combined office and research use.

DPI is able to report domestic metered water use data for 44 of 56 locations (79 per cent). This includes all activity centres, including offices, farms, depots, and research centres, and represents 84 per cent of DPI staff. The reduction in sites represented was due to the transfer of the Edenhope site to DSE.

In 2009-10, DPI continued to implement water saving measures across the state including rainwater tanks and water recycling initiatives. Compared with 2008-09, DPI water use has decreased by 35 per cent, saving over 32,000 kilolitres.

The DPI centre at Attwood, which houses approximately 150 staff, reduced its water consumption in 2009-10 by 47 per cent through installation of large rainwater tanks, new plumbing and pipe replacement and operational efficiencies. Similar investment at the DPI centre at Horsham reduced its consumption by 42 per cent. Changes to operations at DPI Werribee resulted in savings of 47 per cent.

An increase in water use at dedicated office sites is due to major leaks at two regional sites.

DPI continues to improve its water accuracy and reporting capacity through the on going development of the Environmental Management Tool. The tool currently measures domestic metered water usage and in time will measure irrigation, rainwater, alternate supply and re-used water across all locations, and its use for non-office activities such as farming and research.

Where DPI relies on alternate supply, investment is being made to measure and reduce consumption. At the Ellinbank site, which historically had a high reliance on water from the local creek, DPI has installed additional water tanks and infrastructure to capture rainwater, stormwater and effluent recycling to allow for domestic use, wash down and paddock irrigation.

Table 2: Water use indicators

Description	Unit of Measure	Actual 2009-10	Actual 2008-09	Change	Trend
Total units of water consumed (domestic metered water)	Kilolitres	59,321	91,647	-35%	Improving
- Dedicated office	Kilolitres	9,725	9,466	3%	Increase
- Other activities (includes combined farm/research/office locations)	Kilolitres	49,596	82,182	-40%	Improving
Domestic water consumed per FTE (dedicated office)	Kilolitres per FTE	14.83	13.50	10%	Increase
Number of sites represented (dedicated office)	Number of sites	15	16	-6%	Decrease
Number of sites represented (other activities)	Number of sites	29	31	-6%	Decrease
Percentage of staff included	Percentage of FTE	84	83	1%	Improving
Percentage of sites included	Percentage of sites	79	77	2%	Improving

Notes

• Because water billing cycles do not align with statutory reporting requirements, DPI water use relates to a 12-month period from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010.
• Total units of water consumed was reported correctly in the 2008-09 Annual Report, however ‘Domestic water consumed per FTE
  • Dedicated Offices’ was incorrectly reported as 11.88 kilolitres per FTE due to erroneous FTE calculation.
• Where metered usage represents a combination of office and research activities, it has been included in ‘Other activities’ for greater transparency.

Waste

DPI continued its waste audit methodology, encompassing multiple locations and functions across the state. In 2009-10, waste audits were conducted at 14 per cent of sites, representing 49 per cent of DPI staff. Audits were conducted at a mix of office, laboratory and research centres.

Total waste at audited sites decreased 10 per cent compared to 2008-09. DPI achieved an 84 per cent recycling rate in 2009-10. The recycling rate recorded a very small decrease of one per cent compared to 2008-09 due to a reduction in overall waste levels. Levels of waste directed to compost also increased by almost six per cent.

DPI will continue to perform waste audits throughout the state and continues to work on increasing the type and volume of waste being recycled in both metropolitan and regional locations.

Table 3: Waste indicators

Description	Unit of Measure	Actual 2009-10	Actual 2008-09	Change	Trend
Total units of waste disposed (all destinations)	Kilograms per annum	96,729	106,913	-10%	Improving
- Units of landfill waste	Kilograms per annum	15,240	16,525	-8%	Improving
- Units of commingled recycling	Kilograms per annum	69,584	79,150	-12%	Improving
- Units of compost	Kilograms per annum	11,905	11,238	6%	Improving
Total units of office waste produced per FTE (all destinations)	Kilograms per FTE per annum	82.61	91.71	-10%	Improving
- Units of landfill disposed per FTE	Kilograms per FTE per annum	13.02	14.17	-8%	Improving
- Units of commingled recycling disposed per FTE	Kilograms per FTE per annum	59.43	67.89	-12%	Improving
- Units of compost disposed per FTE	Kilograms per FTE per annum	10.17	9.64	5%	Improving
Recycling rate	Percentage of total waste	84	85	1%	Decrease
Greenhouse gas emissions associated with waste disposal	Tonnes of CO2 equivalent	17	18	-8%	Improving
Percentage of total staff audited	Percentage of FTE	49	47	4%	Improving
Percentage of total sites audited	Percentage of sites	14	13	10%	Improving

Notes

• Data is based on single-day waste audits across eight DPI locations using a contracted waste auditor and extrapolated using total FTE. The same locations were used in the 2008-09 financial year.
• Waste includes office and non-office activities.
• Biological and hazard waste such as laboratory glass and syringes from research activities have not been included in the general office-based waste audit.

Targets

Target: DPI waste audits to cover a minimum of 30 per cent of FTEs (FRD24C requirement).

Result: Ahead of target. In 2009-10, DPI conducted waste audits at eight locations, representing 49 per cent of total FTEs.

Paper

DPI measures paper use by reams of paper purchased. Paper data is based on all DPI locations.

In 2009-10, DPI paper use per FTE remained stable with a small reduction of one per cent compared with last year.

DPI continues to identify and monitor aspects of operations that generate greater paper use to drive strategies for reduction.

In 2009-10, DPI increased the recycled content in purchased paper and 84 per cent of DPI paper had a recycled content of 50 per cent or greater. Paper purchased by DPI with less than 50 per cent recycled content is typically A3 and A4 coloured paper.

DPI also continues to work towards electronic rather than paper based document management systems where possible. In a recent example, the DPI Advertising, Design and Publishing team virtually eliminated hard copy records for the department’s hundreds of advertising booking requests.

Table 4: Paper use indicators

Description	Unit of Measure	Actual 2009-10	Actual 2008-09	Change	Trend
Total units of paper used	Reams	26,547	27,765	-4%	Improving
Units of paper used per FTE	Reams per FTE per annum	11.22	11.31	-1%	Improving
- Percentage 75-100% recycled content purchased	Percentage of total paper purchased	66	46	43%	Improving
- Percentage 50-75% recycled content purchased	Percentage of total paper purchased	18	37	-50%	Improving
- Percentage 0-49% recycled content purchased	Percentage of total paper purchased	16	17	-6%	Improving
Percentage of staff included	Percentage of FTE	100	100	0%	Stable
Percentage of sites included	Percentage of sites	100	100	0%	Stable

Note

DPI paper use indicators relate to a 12-month period from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010.

Transport

The nature of DPI operations means that a relatively large vehicle fleet is required. Furthermore, activities such as emergency response, fisheries compliance and agricultural research require that a high proportion of vehicles are utility, all wheel drive (AWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD).

Since 2006, DPI has actively managed its fleet profile to achieve a higher proportion of high environmental performance (HEP) vehicles, and to provide a more efficient fleet mix based on need.

At the end of the reporting period, the DPI fleet contained 15 fewer vehicles than 2008-09. At this time, DPI had 379 dedicated passenger vehicles, 318 of which (83 per cent) are high environmental performance (HEP) models. HEP models are defined as hybrid, four cylinder and LPG vehicles. DPI’s online vehicle booking system defaults all bookings to HEP vehicles when available.

DPI will continue to review its fleet mix as vehicles are scheduled for replacement. Replacement vehicles default to HEP models unless an alternative model is required for operational use.

DPI is supporting the Victorian Government’s commitment to purchase 2000 Toyota Camry Hybrid vehicles to replace Toyota Prius Hybrid and four cylinder Toyota Camry vehicles.

Continued focus on fleet management in 2009-10 resulted in further reductions to total transport energy use compared to 2008-09. Total vehicle kilometres decreased by three per cent and greenhouse gas emissions reduced by one per cent. A small increase in CO2 equivalent per 1000 kilometres of one per cent is due to increased AWD and 4WD use.

An increase in AWD and 4WD use has been driven by operational activities and occupational health and safety considerations. In particular, because DPI reports vehicle usage for a 12-month period from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010, 2009-10 data reflects significant recovery effort related to the 2009 bushfires. Fire response and recovery demands increased use of AWD and 4WD vehicles to provide safe access to damaged areas.

Because DPI categorises fleet data by vehicle type, tonnes of CO2 per 1000 kilometres (a requirement of FRD 24C) provides an indication of changing vehicle use.

Total air travel kilometres have increased by two per cent compared with 2008-09. Air travel includes intrastate, interstate and overseas trips. Overseas trips are driven by market development for agriculture products, investment attraction for major energy programs and global research collaboration. Additional information on overseas trips is available on the DPI website.

The proportion of DPI staff responding to the annual Travel Smart survey increased in 2009-10 by four percentage points, to 42 per cent. The proportion of staff using a low environmental impact option to travel to work (such as public transport, walking or cycling) is increasing, with 90 per cent of CBD staff and 30 per cent of staff at metropolitan and regional sites using these modes.

Table 5: Transport indicators – vehicle use

Description	Unit of Measure	Actual 2009-10	Actual 2008-09	Change	Trend
Total vehicle travel	Kilometres	18,999,194	19,522,783	-3%	Improving
- Utility vehicles	Kilometres	1,125,726	1,353,589	-17%	Improving
- Four wheel drive (4WD) vehicles	Kilometres	6,018,688	5,573,603	8%	Increase
- All wheel drive (AWD) vehicles	Kilometres	2,739,818	2,635,773	4%	Increase
- Six cylinder passenger vehicles	Kilometres	1,704,166	3,304,431	-48%	Improving
- Dual fuel Commodores	Kilometres	1,758,615	1,546,913	14%	Improving
- High environmental performance vehicles	Kilometres	5,652,181	5,108,474	11%	Improving
Total energy consumption	Megajoules	68,608,795	69,480,190	-1%	Improving
- Utility vehicles	Megajoules	4,510,714	4,787,447	-6%	Improving
- Four wheel drive (4WD) vehicles	Megajoules	26,346,252	24,036,774	10%	Increase
- All wheel drive (AWD) vehicles	Megajoules	9,519,492	9,579,370	-1%	Improving
- Six cylinder passenger vehicles	Megajoules	5,740,546	10,143,344	-43%	Improving
- Dual fuel Commodores	Megajoules	6,071,221	4,903,607	24%	Improving
- High environmental performance vehicles	Megajoules	16,420,570	16,029,648	2%	Improving
Total associated greenhouse gas emissions	Tonnes of CO2 equivalent	4,964	5,045	-2%	Improving
- Utility vehicles	Tonnes of CO2 equivalent	316	349	-9%	Improving
- Four wheel drive (4WD) vehicles	Tonnes of CO2 equivalent	1,977	1,805	10%	Increase
- All wheel drive (AWD) vehicles	Tonnes of CO2 equivalent	703	707	-1%	Improving
- Six cylinder passenger vehicles	Tonnes of CO2 equivalent	419	741	-43%	Improving
- Dual fuel Commodores	Tonnes of CO2 equivalent	404	334	21%	Improving
- High environmental performance vehicles	Tonnes of CO2 equivalent	1,145	1,109	3%	Improving
Total associated greenhouse gas emissions per 1000km	Tonnes of CO2 equivalent per 1000 kilometres	0.261	0.258	1%	Increase
Fleet offsets purchased for prior year by DSE	Tonnes of CO2 equivalent	5,045	5,303	-5%	Improving

Notes

• DPI transport energy use indicators relate to a 12-month period from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010.
• DPI fleet includes all vehicles used for road-based travel, with the exception of commercial vehicles such as on-farm vehicles, trucks and tractors, and executive vehicles.
• Utility denotes two wheel drive utility vehicles such as Holden Commodore and Ford Falcon utility vehicles.
• AWD and 4WD vehicles are required for agricultural and fisheries activities as well as emergency response roles.
• High environmental performance vehicles are defined as hybrid Toyota Prius and Camry, LPG and four cylinder Toyota Camry.
• In line with FRD24C guidelines, the executive fleet is not represented in the fleet data.
• State Government Vehicle Pool vehicles used by DPI staff are included in reporting.

Table 6: Transport indicators – other

Description	Unit of Measure	Actual 2009-10	Actual 2008-09	Change	Trend
Total distance travelled by aeroplane	Kilometres	4,731,855	4,621,649	2%	Increase
Employees using public transport, cycling, walking or carpooling to work	Percentage of employees	47	35	35%	Improving
- Melbourne - CBD	Percentage of employees	90	79	13%	Improving
- Melbourne - Metro	Percentage of employees	29	11	172%	Improving
- Rural	Percentage of employees	30	15	94%	Improving
Percentage of staff included	Percentage of FTE	42	38	11%	Improving
Percentage of sites included	Percentage of sites	100	100	0%	Stable

Notes

• In 2008-09, DPI reported 4,621,649 kilometres air travel for the period 1 July 2008 to 30 June 2009. Due to statutory reporting timelines, from 2009-10, DPI air travel indicators relate to a 12-month period from 1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010. For the period 1 April 2008 to 31 March 2009, DPI staff travelled 5,523,705 kilometres.
• Air travel data is sourced from the whole-of-Victorian Government travel supplier.

Greenhouse gas emissions

In 2009-10, DPI decreased greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in all classes except air travel (see comment in transport section).

Offsets for green power have been purchased under the whole-of-Victorian Government state procurement contract, and this represents an offset of 25 per cent of DPI’s total electricity purchases.

In line with the Victorian Government’s commitment in Our Environment, Our Future 2006, to offset the Victorian Government’s passenger vehicle fleet emissions, the Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) will purchase offsets equivalent to DPI passenger vehicle emissions for the 2009–10 financial year. This purchase is done in arrears and for the 2008–09 financial year, 5,045 tonnes of CO2 equivalent were purchased.

Table 7: Greenhouse gas emissions

Description	Unit of Measure	Actual 2008-09	Actual 2009-10	Change	Trend
Total energy – greenhouse gas emissions	Tonnes of CO2 equivalent	23,953	23,881	0%	Stable
Total fleet – greenhouse gas emissions	Tonnes of CO2 equivalent	5,045	4,964	-2%	Improving
Total air travel – greenhouse gas emissions	Tonnes of CO2 equivalent	1,404	1,507	7%	Increase
Total waste disposal – greenhouse gas emissions	Tonnes of CO2 equivalent	18	17	-8%	Improving
Total GHG offsets purchased	Tonnes of CO2 equivalent	9,736	10,581	9%	Improving

Purchasing

DPI’s Contract Resource Unit (CRU) supports staff in purchasing eco-friendly products and services. The unit promotes sustainable procurement and the purchase of environmentally preferred products and services by providing internal advice and training sessions and through the provision of information on DPI’s intranet. Quarterly procurement newsletters developed by the CRU for DPI staff responsible for procurement tasks also highlight sustainability issues.

DPI was responsible for the inclusion of sustainability criteria in the Victorian Government Purchasing Board (VGPB) templates for tender evaluation, through the coordination of other departments’ comments, drafting new templates and attaining VGPB and Department of Treasury and Finance approval for the templates to be utilised across government. An Excellence in Green Purchasing Award was presented to the Victorian Government in recognition of this achievement.

Departmental procurement documentation templates encourage consideration of environmental sustainability in purchasing. In 2009-10, 49 per cent of DPI Accredited Purchasing Unit submissions gave consideration to environmental sustainability. The CRU will continue working with business units to encourage and improve levels of environmental sustainability in procurement during 2010-11.

DPI continued to support eco-friendly products and services. The purchase of eco-friendly office stationery, furniture and toner continued in preference to non-recycled material where appropriate.

DPI promotes the sale of obsolete assets and equipment through various channels including the internet rather than disposing of the equipment in landfill.