Guide to Public Sector Environmental Management

The Australian National Audit Office issued a Better Practice guide to Public Sector Environmental Management, 27 April 2012. This may not have got much attention as did not include the title of the report on the web version. The report has a curiously non-intuitive table of contents: click on "Introduction" and you don't get the introduction, just a picture of the word "Introduction". Here is a table of contents for the document which actually works:

• Front matter
  
  • Cover and copyright
  • Foreword
  • Table of contents
• Introduction
  • Aim and focus of the Guide
  • Development of the Guide
  • Structure of the Guide
• Part 1. Environmental Management Fundamentals for Executives
  • Understand the environmental management requirements
  • Review existing operations and environmental impacts
  • Collect data and assess current environmental performance
  • Prioritise, plan and commit toS action
  • Build an environmentally aware culture
  • Assign and coordinate responsibilities
  • Establish effective reporting arrangements

• Part 2. Principles and Practices to Improve Environmental Management across Key Operational Areas

  • 1. Energy

  • 1.1 Why it is important
    • Energy is typically the largest source of an entity's office-based greenhouse gas emissions
    • Government policy sets mandatory performance targets and minimum energy performance requirements for office buildings
  • 1.2 What is required
    • Energy Efficiency in Government Operations policy
  • 1.3 Where to begin
    • Understand your entity's site and energy use
    • Measure performance with appropriate metering
    • Establish regular monitoring and energy audits
  • 1.4 What to focus on
    • Optimise efficiency of office equipment
    • Influence user behaviour
    • Install well-designed, efficient lighting and controls
    • Implement Green Lease Schedules
    • Explore options to upgrade central services
    • Consider purchasing renewable energy
  • 1.5 Checklist
    • Summary of key points and action items
  • 1.6 Additional reference and guidance material

  • 2. ICT

  • 2.1 Why it is important
    • Information and Communications Technology (ICT) consumes energy, produces greenhouse gas emissions, increases resource consumption and generates potentially hazardous electronic waste
    • Recent government policy sets mandatory performance targets and procurement requirements for improving ICT sustainability
  • 2.2 What is required
    • ICT Sustainability Plan 2010-2015
    • Data Centre Strategy 2010-2025
    • Data Centre Optimisation Targets policy
  • 2.3 Where to begin
    • Understand your entity's ICT equipment profile and energy use
    • Assess performance against government targets
  • 2.4 What to focus on
    • Reduce energy consumption
    • Consolidate ICT equipment
    • Improve data centre efficiency
    • Reduce the impacts of office paper use
    • Minimise e-waste and improve the sustainability of the ICT supply chain
  • 2.5 Checklist
    • Summary of key points and actions items
  • 2.6 Additional reference and guidance material

  • 3. Waste

  • 3.1 Why it is important
    • Public sector operations consume material resources, such as paper, and contribute to landfill, pollution and greenhouse gas emissions
    • The management of waste has evolved from a primary focus on disposal towards greater attention on waste minimisation, resource use and maximising material recovery
  • 3.2 What is required
    • National Waste Policy: Less waste, more resources
    • Australian Packaging Covenant
  • 3.3 Where to begin
    • Understand your entity's waste profile
    • Collect data through periodic waste audits and assessments
  • 3.4 What to focus on
    • Establish appropriate supporting infrastructure and signage
    • Engage staff through education and awareness
    • Maximise re-use and recycling rates
    • Minimise hazardous and landfill waste
    • Align waste management services and cleaning contracts
  • 3.5 Checklist
    • Summary of key points and actions items
  • 3.6 Additional reference and guidance material

  • 4. Water

  • 4.1 Why it is important
    • Due to Australia's arid environment and climatic variability, managing water resources is essential for sustaining our cities and supporting economic prosperity
    • Commercial buildings account for a significant proportion of potable water consumption in our cities. Given the scale of government operations, the Australian Government is a significant consumer of potable water
  • 4.2 What is required
    • There are currently no specific requirements for entities to meet minimum standards of water efficiency. However, all entities should be aware of, and comply with, water restrictions that apply to their region
    • It is recommended that entities report water consumption in annual reports to meet the reporting requirements of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, section 516A
  • 4.3 Where to begin
    • Understand your entity's site and water use
    • Measure and meter water consumption
    • Establish regular monitoring and water audits
  • 4.4 What to focus on
    • Rectify water leaks
    • Review the operation of cooling towers and irrigation
    • Procure water efficient fixtures and appliances
    • Incorporate water efficiency requirements into service contracts
    • Replace, re-use and recycle water
  • 4.5 Checklist
    • Summary of key points and actions items
  • 4.6 Additional reference and guidance material

  • 5. Travel

  • 5.1 Why it is important
    • Vehicle and air travel is a necessary part of fulfilling public sector functions. However, the transport sector is heavily reliant on fossil fuels and produces large amounts of greenhouse gases and pollutants
  • 5.2 What is required
    • Fleet Vehicle Selection Policy
    • Green Vehicle Guide target
    • Whole-of-Australian Government Travel Arrangements
  • 5.3 Where to begin
    • Understand and baseline your entity's travel profile
    • Set a target and monitor performance
  • 5.4 What to focus on
    • Review travel practices and use alternative means where practical
    • Transition to more environmentally friendly vehicles
    • Support staff to improve their commuting practices
    • Consider participation in carbon offset initiatives
  • 5.5 Checklist
    • Summary of key points and actions items
  • 5.6 Additional reference and guidance material

  • 6. Property

  • 6.1 Why it is important
    • The operation of buildings consumes energy, water and resources and generates waste and greenhouse gas emissions
    • Government policy sets performance targets and minimum energy performance requirements for leases, major refurbishments and new buildings
  • 6.2 What is required
    • Commonwealth Property Management Framework
    • Energy Efficiency in Government Operations policy
    • Public Works Committee Act 1969
  • 6.3 Where to begin
    • Understand your entity's property and relevant policy requirements
    • Incorporate energy efficiency considerations into long-term property management strategies
  • 6.4 What to focus on
    • Plan and implement Green Lease Schedules
    • Optimise environmental opportunities from refurbishments and new building projects
    • Improve demolition and construction waste handling practices
  • 6.5 Checklist
    • Summary of key points and actions items
  • 6.6 Additional reference and guidance material
• Appendices
  • Appendix A: Annual environmental reporting calendar
  • Appendix B: State and territory government policies and resources
  • Appendix C: Quick wins