Climate change is a pressing issue that affects us all. In our City, we are already experiencing the impacts of climate change, with higher temperatures lasting for longer, and adverse weather events becoming more intense.
To lessen the impacts, the most important thing we can all do is prevent greenhouse gas emissions (also referred to as 'carbon emissions') from being released into the atmosphere as a result of our activities.
Now more than ever, there is a need for the Australian business community to shift their focus to more efficient and sustainable operations and lower their exposure to climate change and energy price impacts.
If you are a business located in the Unley Council area looking to reduce carbon emissions and improve business performance through sustainability practices and technologies, get the foundational knowledge and skills you need to progress with Net Zero Essentials.
Net Zero Essentials is an e-learning course offered by the South Australian Business Chamber and subsidised by the City of Unley. The course consists of 9 x e-learning units which will be available to you to complete at your own pace within a 6-month period.
Topics include building your greenhouse gas emissions profile, identifying and evaluating emission reduction opportunities, setting net zero targets, identifying net zero emissions pathways and converting them into a tangible action plan for implementation.
Regular price for the course is $495, your contribution is $195 after the City of Unley subsidy.
To access this program and other professional services to assist businesses located in the Unley Council area, visit the Business Service Portal.
Below are some practical and cost effective ways that you can reduce your businesses carbon footprint:
- install energy efficient lighting (LED or other energy-saving light bulbs) and switch lights off when they're not being used (either manually or via automatic sensors);
- purchase energy-saving office equipment e.g. computers, LCD monitors, printers and photocopiers;
- encourage staff to switch off all of their equipment at the end of the work day;
- improve insulation with energy efficient windows and doors;
- manage heating and cooling systems by turning the thermostat up or down by one or two degrees depending on the season to reduce energy demand. Set the thermostat up or down by 10 to 15 degrees at night when no one is around;
- maintain all equipment so it is working at its highest efficiency;
- promote sustainable travel to and from work and meetings, e.g. riding, walking, e-scooters, taking public transport;
- use energy-efficient or electric cars as fleet vehicles; and
- re-consider air travel requirements if online meetings can be held instead.
The City of Unley aims to be carbon neutral for its corporate emissions by December 2030. We are taking steps to actively reduce our impacts and help slow climate change.
Taking these measures will have a long-term positive impact on Council's operating budget by lowering the ongoing costs of fuel and electricity, reducing our vulnerability to price increases and improving our organisation's resilience as we transition to a low carbon economy.