10 December 2007
City West Water is the first water authority in Australia to become carbon neutral, meaning the equivalent of nearly 13,000 tonnes less greenhouse gas being produced.
While City West Water aimed to be carbon neutral by 30 June this year, the company’s sustainability report confirmed it had exceeded the target with final net greenhouse gas emissions of -2,986 tonnes.
Working with EPA Victoria through its Sustainability Covenant program, City West Water achieved its carbon neutral outcome by reducing energy use, using renewable energy including ‘green’ electricity and using carbon offsets.
Anne Barker, Managing Director of City West Water, said going carbon neutral was part of the company’s commitment to be a truly sustainable business and was equivalent to taking 2,950 cars off the road for a year.
“Water companies like City West Water are very much on the ‘sharp end’ of climate change consequences, with the drought having a massive impact on water supplies,” Ms Barker said.
“Pumping water, treating sewage and recycling water are all processes which need a lot of energy. At City West Water, we felt we had an obligation to take immediate action.”
The company’s scheme to exchange 3 star efficient showerheads for older, inefficient models played a major role in offsetting carbon emissions.
“We recognise that we can’t solve climate change on our own, but the significant offsets we’ve achieved by swapping inefficient showerheads show we can not only save water, but tackle climate change, by working with our customers,” Ms Barker said.
Ms Barker said City West Water has become carbon neutral at no extra cost to its customers.
“Customers have increasing expectations that companies should be accountable for their environmental footprint,” she said.
“Our experience shows organisations can balance their economic, environmental and social responsibilities and we hope other companies will take up the carbon neutral challenge.”
City West Water is already investigating ways to remain carbon neutral as it faces long term challenges to provide water to customers.
“While we’re really proud of our achievement so far, the challenges of supplying water to a growing community in an increasingly dry climate mean we can’t be complacent,” Ms Barker said.
“Substituting recycled water for drinking water to use for irrigation, industry and outdoor residential use will only increase in the future, but producing it is very energy intensive.
“We’re investigating ways to remain carbon neutral, including refurbishing our head office to achieve a four star Australian building greenhouse rating and looking at how we might generate renewable energy in our own systems.”