Melbourne

Sector: Municipal Government

Carbon Footprint:

> 58,200,000 metric tonnes CO₂e (2004)

TARGETS

> Zero (net) corporate emissions by 2020

Achievements

> Corporate reduction in CO₂e emissions of 15% between 1996 and 2003
> Community reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 16% between 1996 and 2002
> Sourcing 23% of corporate energy from renewables

Benefits

> $1,400,000 cost savings through energy efficiency measures

Low Carbon Solutions

Background

The City of Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia, and is the capital of the state of Victoria. Melbourne was the first Australian city to achieve all five ‘Milestones’ in the International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives’ (ICLEI) Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) programme. Over 180 local councils across Australia have committed to the CCP programme, representing over 70% of the country’s population. “Melbourne is definitely a leader amongst the councils in Australia, and it is hoped that other cities will follow in taking a dramatic stance on climate change,” says Wayne Wescott, Chief Executive Officer for ICLEI Australia/New Zealand.

The City of Melbourne has set strong targets for the city corporation’s use of renewable energy, with a goal of increasing use to 50% of projected demand by 2010. The city currently purchases 23% of its power from renewable sources, including wind, landfill/bio gas generation, and pulp and paper biomass co-generation. Much of this power is currently used for street lighting.

Melbourne further increased the profile of renewable energy in the city through the development of leadership projects. The most prominent of these involved the installation of 1,350 solar panels on the roof of Queen Victoria Market (QVM). This project is the largest grid-connected solar installation in any Australian city, and has the capacity to generate 252,000 kWh each year. The solar panels at QVM are expected to reduce the market’s annual electricity needs by 40% and reduce emissions by more than 250 tonnes of CO₂e each year. The funds for the project came from the City of Melbourne and the Howard Government’s Renewable Energy Commercialisation Project. “Queen Victoria Market offers an excellent opportunity to promote renewable energy technology, as it hosts nearly half a million tourists and eight million visitors every year,” says Dr. David Kemp, Commonwealth Minister for the Environment and Heritage.

The city of Melbourne is also seeking to increase the amount of renewable energy used by the community by 22% on 1996 levels. This is being achieved through a range of measures: exploring fuel cell and solar hot water heater demonstration projects; investigating requirements for the city’s suppliers to purchase 10% of power from renewables (Green Tick programme); and the promotion of Community Power, a bulk electricity purchasing programme for households that helps reduce costs and increase access to green power.

In 2003, Melbourne realised that it would meet the initial greenhouse gas targets it had set ahead of schedule. Instead of resting on its laurels, the city decided to push further ahead, and set a groundbreaking goal of zero net emissions for 2020. “Melbourne did not just set an audacious goal without planning ahead,” says Wayne Wescott, CEO for ICLEI Australia / New Zealand. “A lot of time was spent working out where reductions could come from, and what it was possible for the city to achieve – looking at efficiency, renewables, and sequestration.”

Through Cities for Climate Protection Melbourne set a goal of reducing the city corporation’s energy consumption by 30% on 1996 levels by 2010. As a flagship project for this goal, the city commissioned a world class green building to house its administrative offices. The building, known as Council House Two (CH2), and Melbourne Lord Mayor John So has said of the project, “With CH2, we are striving to create a building that will return financial and environmental rewards for many years to come.” CH2 breaks new ground in sustainable office development with features including: hanging gardens, shower towers and phase change material to cool the air, wind turbines, solar cells, and rainwater collectors on the roof. CH2 is aiming to be a zero net emissions building.

Melbourne has also sought to improve energy efficiency in the community, setting a goal of reducing energy use in buildings 50% on 1996 levels by 2020. To achieve this, the city set up a number of new programmes including the Commercial Buildings Partnership (CBP). In its pilot phase, the CBP provided energy audits and retrofit plans to the 20 largest commercial buildings in Melbourne, resulting in annual reductions of 11,500 tonnes of greenhouse gases. Melbourne has also been an advocate of the State of Victoria’s work to enact mandatory energy requirements for residential premises, and to develop similar minimum standards for commercial buildings.

Melbourne has commissioned a world class green building, CH2, to house its administrative offices. CH2 will include wind turbines, solar cells and rainwater collectors on the roof. CH2 is aiming to be a zero net emissions building.