The Carbon Neutral Public Service programme – our emissions inventory and reduction plan

What is the Carbon Neutral Public Service programme?

The Carbon Neutral Public Service programme aims to demonstrate government leadership on sustainability by reducing government’s environmental impact.

It will do this by making the 34 participating core public service agencies carbon neutral. The six lead agencies will be carbon neutral by 2012, with the other 28 agencies being on the path to carbon neutrality by 2012.

How does the programme work?

The programme involves a three-step process.

1. Measuring the greenhouse gas emissions from each agency’s activities.
2. Reducing those emissions.
3. Offsetting remaining emissions by undertaking projects to remove an equivalent amount of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or prevent it being released.

All 34 agencies will complete an annual emissions inventory, and develop and implement an emissions reduction plan for their organisation. The programme will use New Zealand-based projects to offset the greenhouse gas emissions that cannot be avoided after emissions reduction activities have taken place.

The programme builds on significant emissions reductions achieved through the Govt³ programme and other existing initiatives aimed at making government more sustainable.

Emissions inventory and reduction plan

The Department of Building and Housing is one of the government agencies taking part in the Carbon Neutral Public Service programme.

You can find our emissions inventory and reduction plan for 2006/07 below.

• Emissions inventory report

These results provide the baseline from which to measure our future emissions.

• Emissions reduction plan

Following is a summary of current and planned key activities to reduce the Department’s emission levels.

We have:

• installed video-conferencing facilities in national office
• reviewed our travel policy
• changed all printers in national office to default to double sided printing
• completed a waste audit at three Department sites
• installed proper waste recycling stations in kitchens and the café in national office
• provided staff with recycling waste paper boxes.

We will:

• undertake a staff education programme about ways to reduce emissions, reduce waste, and improve energy efficiency across the board
• complete a level 2 energy audit of the national and Auckland offices
• develop and implement a travel plan
• install light motion sensors in all regional offices and remaining areas in national office not currently fitted with sensors.