FAQs
What are Council's major sources of greenhouse gas emissions?
A 2018/19 audit found that the majority of Council emissions were from electricity for Council owned offices and community buildings (56%) and street lighting (18%).
Council’s total emissions in that year were the equivalent of 1,033 tCO2
Council has begun to upgrade street lighting to LED lights and improve the energy efficiency of Council buildings.
What are the greenhouse gas emissions produced by our Shire?
In the 2018/19 year, Mansfield Shire local government area released the equivalent of about 244,000 t CO2. These emissions mainly came from agriculture, transport and electricity.
To help reduce these emissions from our local government area, Council’s Climate Action Plan suggests that Council support regional collaboration, production of educational resources, signposting to funding, and letters of support Council.
What is the emissions reductions hierarchy?
The emission reductions hierarchy is the order in which organisations and individuals should take emission reduction actions.
For instance while Council can't turn off street lighting (energy conservation which is the most preferred type of action), as part of its Climate Action Plan, Council has installed more energy efficient light bulbs in the Shire's street lights (energy efficiency).
The next preference in the hierarchy is "Installed Renewables". As part of its Climate Action Plan, in FY 2021/22 Council spent over $30,000 to install rooftop solar PV on Council's main building in Highett Street, Mansfield and plans to spend similar amounts each year for the next several years.
The next level of the hierarchy is "Purchased Renewables". In 2023 once Council's existing electricity supply contract expires, Council intends to join a collaborative purchasing agreement made up of other Councils to buy cost effective 100% renewable electricity. Experts advise Council that by 2023, 100% renewable electricity should be similar a similar price to fossil fuel generated electricity.
As the last resort from 2023 Council will use "Offsets" to ensure that it reaches net zero emissions in 2023.
What are the actions Council will take to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of Council operations?
Council has focused its first round of climate change actions on the “low hanging fruit” that deliver the greatest benefit as quickly as possible.
These actions come from multiple levels of the emissions reduction hierarchy and are actions recommended by emissions reduction consultants after their rigorous review of Council's emissions profile.
These actions will enable Council operations to reach zero net emissions by 2023.
What are the areas for community and Council emission reduction action?
As with any challenge, there are always more good ideas than can be implemented immediately and Council’s planned response to climate change is no different.
Council has focused its first round of climate change actions on the “low hanging fruit” that deliver the greatest benefit as quickly as possible.
These other actions were recommended in Council’s Climate Change Plan but were not included in the initial round of implemented actions.
If you think that should focus on one of these areas, please complete the "Community Climate Change Action" survey.
But do these climate change actions make economic sense for Council?
Yes.
Reduced greenhouse gas emissions can also be good for the bottom line.
Council has a 10 year plan to implement greenhouse emissions reduction actions.
These climate actions are justified on economic, efficiency and environmental grounds as well as by the emission reductions generated.
This means that by 2030 when all these emissions reduction actions are implemented, they will annually generate average savings of about $75,000 as well as annually reduce greenhouse gas emissions by about 1,160 tCO2e.
