Greenhouse

We recognise the significance of the greenhouse issue and climate change.  Our sources of greenhouse emissions include fuel use from transport, energy consumption in offices, workshops and depots, emissions from waste disposal and those resulting from line losses - where electricity is lost from our distribution networks while being transported from the transmission grid to end users.

Another minor source is sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) gas, which is used as an electrical insulator in sealed electrical switchgear. Where possible, we now use non-SF6 equipment in new installations.

As members of the Greenhouse Challenge, both CitiPower and Powercor report annually on our greenhouse emissions.

Notwithstanding the greenhouse emissions associated with line losses from our network, we are mitigating the greenhouse impact from other aspects of our business.

From 1 January 2007 we began purchasing 10% of electricity used in our offices and depots from renewable sources under the GreenPowerTM scheme. Under the agreement our energy supplier will purchase the energy we nominate from renewable sources such as such as solar, wind, biomass (waste), wave or hydro. Unlike electricity sourced from coal, no greenhouse gases are produced from these sources in creating energy.

GreenPowerTM is a government approved, national accreditation program that sets stringent environmental and reporting standards for all renewable energy products offered by electricity retailers across Australia.

We have joined Landcare's CarbonSMART program to manage the offset of emissions relating to our light fleet. Landcare provides carbon sequestration in native vegetation plantings to offset our light fleet LPG, diesel and petrol emissions. The program is aimed at conservation activities such as erosion control, salinity reduction and streamside rehabilitation.

We have introduced a range of initiatives to encourage employees to cut time spent in cars including membership of TravelSmart, bicycle users groups, a program encouraging the use of public transport and a carpooling initiative.

To reduce emissions associated with the disposal of co-mingled waste, we have introduced new recycling initiatives that have reduced the amount of waste we send to landfill.