Office Sustainability
Our office sustainability programs encourage employees to think and act sustainably at work and at home. The programs promote sustainability through such things as behaviour change by employees (OfficeSmart) and facilities upgrades (Sustainable sites).
We have key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure office sustainability performance based on targets for water, paper, energy and waste to landfill. Meeting these targets is linked to our Enterprise Agreement to give staff added incentive to achieve sustainability goals.
In 2010 we signed up to the CitySwitch Green Office program to improve energy efficiency in all of our corporate office buildings.
As a signatory to CitySwitch Green Office we are committed to making a positive impact on climate change by achieving an accredited 4 stars or higher NABERS Energy rating for all of our corporate office buildings. NABERS Energy is a performance benchmarking system that rates a building's annual greenhouse gas emissions using 12 months of energy bills.
We are also a Sustainability Victoria accredited Waste Wise Business (silver certification).
OfficeSmart
One of the ways we aim to meet our internal, office-based sustainability targets is through the flagship program OfficeSmart.
OfficeSmart encourages sustainable behaviours by all employees in their every day working lives. The program is made possible through the volunteering work of employees, who set the agenda for office-based sustainability improvements.
The volunteers run activities and campaigns that raise awareness for our resource reduction targets, challenging employees to do their bit in reducing our environmental impact.
Sustainable sites
This program aims to improve sustainability outcomes across all Melbourne Water sites. Facility upgrades help to reduce resource consumption and improve efficiency through:
- mobile and battery recycling
- organic waste collection or compost bins where possible (reducing waste to landfill)
- de-lamping excess lights and replacing with energy efficient globes
- installing rainwater tanks to reduce our potable water consumption.
Whenever a site requires upgrade, we ensure that sustainability is taken into account to improve energy and water efficiency, reduce waste and improve the liveability of our workplaces.
Our new head office – a leader in sustainable design
In mid-2012 we will move into our new head office at 990 Latrobe Street, Docklands. The building has been designed to a 6 star green building standard, which few office buildings in Australia currently reach.
As well as being more energy and water efficient, the new building will mean we consolidate several smaller offices currently spread around the CBD fringe into a single place.
Other sustainability programs
We also have a number of other programs to improve our sustainability performance, including:
- Sustainability training (leadership and technical training)
- Member of ECO-Buy (sustainable purchasing)
- Bicycle Users Group (to encourage riding in to work)
- Participation in external environmental associations (such as VicWater Sustainability Taskforce, Business and the Environment, Australian Water Association, and the Water Services Association of Australia).