A good fit for the environment

A good fit for the environment

Working spaces of Melbourne GLBTI community groups will have a green overhaul, thanks to a Melbourne City Council proposal.
The council recently announced a $2.5 million retrofitting project for 13 council buildings, including the Commonwealth Bank building where JOY94.9, the ALSO Foundation, the Melbourne Queer Film Festival and the Gay and Lesbian Switchboard are located.
The council’s Finance and Governance Committee said the move is a bid to reduce the carbon footprint council buildings make.
In the retrofit, current lighting will be replaced with energy-saving alternatives, low-flow plumbing fixtures will be installed and improvements will be made to gas, water and electricity metering through specialised computer systems. Water-saving measures will also be addressed.
According to the council, the proposed agreement with energy services company Honeywell Building Solutions would generate annual energy savings of around $190,000 per year, plus annual greenhouse gas reductions equivalent to 348 fewer cars and a saving of enough water to fill 52 Olympic-sized swimming pools a year.
MCC Eco-City Committee chair Cr Cathy Oke said the contract arrangement “guaranteed” savings would be made keeping council building operations green.
“The project outlines an ambitious timeline of 18 months and it is expected that savings made under the program will repay the investment made by council within 15 years,” Oke said.
The proposal will be put to a full council meeting on October 27.

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