This article is from the Australian Property Journal archive
THE QUEENSLAND Government will spend over $150 million over the eight years in an initiative to turn all government owned office buildings green.
Premier Anna Bligh said the green building initiative would deliver annual ongoing savings of $18 million across the whole-of-government.
Bligh said the equivalent of 48,000 cars will taken off the road and by 2015 energy consumption would be slashed by 210,000 tonnes per year.
“This work has already started under the Government Energy Management Strategy program. However, I want to fast track this work and put specific energy reduction targets on each of our agencies.
“Reducing energy consumption is the most cost effective method of reducing the carbon footprint of a building.” she added.
Minister for Public Works and Housing Robert Schwarten said as part of Climate Smart 2050 the Government had committed to achieving ‘carbon neutral’ status for government office buildings by 2020.
He said after all action had been taken to minimise energy use carbon offsets would be purchased to cover remaining energy use.
“Business and consumers have a role to play but we must lead by example.
“By setting ambitious targets such as these we can show the rest of Australia what can be achieved by acting now in the fight against climate change,” Schwarten concluded.
Australian Property Journal
