New Council plan to slash energy usage and cut costs
Published on 30 June 2017
Mildura Rural City Council’s draft energy management plan for the coming five years has been released, promising cuts to electricity usage of up to 25 per cent and cost savings of up to $426,000 per year.
Endorsed by Councillors at this month’s Ordinary Council Meeting, the Draft Energy Management Plan 2017 – 2021 sets out Council’s long-term management of electricity, gas and fuel consumption and is now on public exhibition.
It focuses on reducing energy consumption in three key areas of Council – buildings and facilities, street/public lighting, and fleet, with three specific energy-saving targets for the coming five years:
- 25 per cent reduction in electricity consumption in buildings
- 15 per cent reduction in electricity consumption from street/public lighting
- 10 per cent reduction in fuel consumption
Councillor for Environmental Sustainability Anthony Cirillo said that once these measures are implemented they will deliver cost savings of $426,000 per year.
“These are significant savings, both financially and environmentally, and build on Council’s commitment and progress over the past 10 years to be more environmentally sustainable,” Cr Cirillo said.
“This new plan will not only build on the savings being made at our larger centres – The Alfred Deakin Centre, Mildura Arts Centre, Madden and Deakin Avenue Service Centres and Red Cliffs depot - but look at savings that can be made at some of our smaller sites.
“Fuel consumption will also be a major priority of this plan.”
Council has already installed more than 355 kilowatts of photovoltaic solar systems on its buildings and hot water systems on 30 buildings, resulting in substantial savings.
Cr Cirillo said that while the plan would focus on what Council could do to generate further energy savings, it would also include actions to support energy-saving in the broader community.
“Ultimately, our new plan, which came out of a review of the Energy Management Plan 2012 – 2017, will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and associated costs and hopefully encourage other businesses and groups to show their commitment to be more environmentally and economically sustainable,” he said.
Council’s Draft Energy Management Plan 2017 – 2021 is now on public exhibition and open for comment until Friday, 28 July. Copies are available from the Have Your Say page of Council’s website at www.mildura.vic.gov.au/Customer-Support/Have-Your-Say or at Council’s Service Centres.
For more information contact Council’s’ Environmental Sustainability Coordinator on (03) 5018 8100.
Media enquiries
Ben Piscioneri
p) (03) 5018 8689
e) ben.piscioneri@mildura.vic.gov.au