The City of Melbourne’s 1200 Buildings Program was launched in 2010 and aims to improve the energy and water efficiency of commercial buildings. This project is expected to eliminate 383,000 tonnes of CO2-e per annum, drive $2 billion of private sector reinvestment, and create 8,000 ‘green collar’ jobs – all results that will help to stimulate Melbourne’s economy during the global recession.
The City of Melbourne is generating 252,000 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year from what is the largest urban solar installation of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere. Housed on the roof of the historic Queen Victoria Market, the system has cut CO2 emissions by 1,314 tons since it was installed in 2003, and is providing enough energy to power 46 homes a year. The installation showcases the benefits of renewable energies to the public and tourists with a real time display on-site of kWh generated and CO2 emissions saved. Importantly, it demonstrates that solar can be applied to historic buildings and dead urban spaces such as rooftops.
Melbourne Council House 2 (CH2) is a multi-award winning and inspirational building that has reduced CO2 emissions by 87%, electricity consumption by 82%, gas by 87% and water by 72%. The building purges stale air at night and pulls in 100% fresh air during the day. The building exterior moves with the sun to reflect and collect heat, and turns sewage into usable water. The building has improved staff effectiveness by 4.9% and will pay for its sustainable features in a little over a decade.
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