ACIAR cuts its electricity usage and installs solar facility

BOB McMULLAN MP
PARLIAMENTARY SECRETARY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR FRASER

Parliamentary Secretary for International Development Assistance, Mr Bob McMullan, today congratulated all ACIAR staff for their efforts to reduce electricity consumption and their decision to install a 48-panel solar facility.

ACIAR has cut its annual electricity consumption by more than 25 per cent with a staff commitment to turning lights off when not needed, using fewer and more efficient lights and paying attention to the settings on its air-conditioning system. As part of its ongoing computer system upgrades, ACIAR has also installed much more energy-efficient computer hardware.

ACIAR has also installed a 48-panel solar facility that is now supplying around seven per cent of ACIAR’s electricity requirements.

“This is the third largest operating solar facility in the ACT. Together with their energy savings, ACIAR is making a significant contribution to reducing its carbon footprint,” Mr McMullan said.

Mr McMullan commended ACIAR staff for their efforts and thanked the building owners of ACIAR House for underwriting half of the solar costs. He also acknowledged that ACIAR had cut water consumption by two thirds over the past three years through the use of tank water.

ACIAR’s actions are consistent with the calls from the recent ANAO Performance Audit that found energy efficiency is particularly important given that energy use accounts for over 95 per cent of greenhouse emissions from Australian agencies.

“We don’t really have a choice – our energy systems and our consumption must become less carbon intensive,” Mr McMullan said. “Without change, our food production systems will be further damaged, challenging our longer term capacity to produce enough food to feed the world’s population, which is predicted to number more than 8.5 billion people by 2050.”

“Nearly all the studies on the global carbon balance point to higher atmospheric and oceanic CO2 levels from the burning of fossil fuels. We have a long way to go to stabilise CO2 concentrations but we have to start,” Mr McMullan said. “Addressing climate change requires a comprehensive global agreement, but there are actions that individuals can take,” he said.

Earth Hour 2009 being held tomorrow evening is an opportunity for all Commonwealth departments and agencies – like ACIAR – to join with the community and demonstrate their ongoing commitment to a less carbon intensive energy world.

Media Contact: Tony Hodges (Mr McMullan’s Office) 0408 690 861
ACIAR 0404 036 892 / 0403 056 670