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Environmental Sustainability & Housing NSW Sarath Mataraarachchi Environmental Officer
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Presentation summary Why is environmental sustainability important? Environmental footprint What is Housing NSW doing?
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Environmental sustainability Environmental sustainability is important to protect the health, diversity and productivity of the environment for the benefit of current and future generations. On a global scale Australia is not a large emitter of greenhouse gases, but on a per capita basis we are one of the highest emitters
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What is an environmental footprint? A measure of how much area a human population requires to produce the resources it consumes and to absorb its wastes.
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Our environmental footprint? The capacity of the earth is limited due to the finite amount of natural resources such as air, water and minerals. In 2003, humans were consuming 1.23 times that of earth’s capacity. That means that in order to sustain our current lifestyles, we needed another 23% of a planet. Source: Global Footprint Network, 2007
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What is our environmental footprint?
Source: WWF Living planet report 2006 http://assets.panda.org/downloads/living_planet_report.pdf
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Environmental sustainability strategy Housing NSW is committed to: improve the environmental sustainability of our housing adopt the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development into the management of our social housing system reduce carbon emission and resource consumption across all our key activities lead by example and support sustainable practices among our stakeholders.
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Strategic priorities Support sustainable communities - social housing residents, Aboriginal Housing Office, community housing providers, maintenance and construction contractors and our own staff. Be innovative in building design and maintenance – New construction and retrofits of existing dwellings. Conserve our natural resources - Reduce water and energy use, generate less waste, protect biodiversity and reduce pollution. Adapt to climate change - Preparing for climate change impacts such as higher temperatures, lower rainfall, more extreme weather events.
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Water saving programs In 2003 public housing households used an average of 50 kilolitres more water per annum than private rental housing and 27 kilolitres more per annum than households purchasing there homes. Source: IPART (2004) “Residential water use in Sydney, the Blue Mountains & Illawarra’.
Install water saving showerheads and flow restrictors (aqualocs) in 88,000 dwellings up until July 2008 in partnership with water utilities and energy companies.
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Water saving programs Water charges introduced and individually metered properties pay for actual water usage. Distributed educational material to residents on how to save water. Water saving devices will be installed in the remaining 36,000 dwellings over the next two years as part of the annual asset dwelling service.
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Water saving achievements In 2006 public housing households no longer consume more water than tenants renting privately. Source: IPART(2007) Residential energy and water use in Sydney, Blue Mountains & Illawarra
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Energy saving programs Solar hot water heater replacement program - Replace 12,000 electric storage hot water systems with solar hot water systems over the next four years. Blacktown Solar Cities Project – installing solar photovolatics and solar hot water heaters in 100 dwellings.
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Community environmental programs Community Greening Program – 85 operational gardens with another 21 new gardens being established. Eco-wise Community Grant Program – $100,000 of funding granted for 16 environmental projects.
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Home Energy Project Housing NSW partnered with the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change to pilot this project with 209 households in Orange and Bathurst in Nov 2008. The Home Energy Project includes the following components: A free home energy assessment conducted by a trained assessor to identify potential water and energy savings Energy & water savings tips tailored to your home Free energy savers kit including resources and energy saving measures such as four compact fluorescent lights, shower timer, thermometer and stopper DECC to deliver this project to all eligible low income households in NSW.
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Energy use in the home