Appendix N – Ecologically sustainable development and environmental performance

The Archives’ functions have the following major impacts on the environment:

use of acid-free cardboard boxes to package and protect records from dust, moisture and mites;
use of energy 24 hours a day, seven days a week to deliver the strict range of room temperature and relative humidity levels required to store records; and
use of environmentally friendly recycled paper for photocopying and office use across the organisation.

In 2007–08, the Archives commenced the development of an Environmental Management Policy. This was in addition to a trial of co-mingling waste management and measuring recyclable materials and waste produced on a yearly basis. These measures have preceded the setting of environmental performance targets and developing cost-effective environmental management actions. They also form part of the Archives’ strategy to raise levels of staff support for the Environmental Management Policy. The co-mingling trial at the National Office (Parkes, ACT) was well supported by staff and further trials will be implemented at 11 Archives sites across Australia in 2008–09.

The National Office, located at East Block, Parkes, ACT was built in 1927 and is heritage listed. The Archives holds a range of public events in the building to complement and preserve its historical significance and its heritage value.

Energy use reduction

The Archives has been exploring methods to reduce energy consumption in all facilities without compromising the controlled and stable climatic conditions required for records storage.

The work to date includes experiments to expand the range of temperature and humidity levels, and different lighting levels and arrangements in the paper records storage areas in the Archives’ ACT facilities. The experiments provided an opportunity to verify the close relationship between strict indoor climate controls and energy consumption, and to examine whether it is possible to maintain wider temperature and humidity levels without risking the integrity of the collection or the health and safety of staff.

Passive thermal and environmentally sustainable design concepts had also been incorporated into the functional design brief for the proposed National Archives Preservation Centre. Also included was the use of carefully selected building materials and finishes, which will not cause harm to the Archives’ collection or the environment.

Tables 33 and 34 provide details of electricity and gas consumption by all Archives offices over several years. Consumption of electricity and gas has decreased in all offices since 2005–06, following the implementation of energy-reduction practices.

Table 33 – National Archives of Australia electricity consumption, 2005–06 to 2007–08 (kilowatt hours)

		2005–06	2006–07	2007–08
Australian Capital Territory	Parkes	1 169 689	1 284 241	1 313 341
	Mitchell	1 839 671	2 062 332	1 852 447
	Greenway	99 164	104 239	97 496
	Hume	3 152	2 626	1 253
New South Wales	Chester Hill	1 560 879	1 675 144	1 727 628
Victoria	East Burwood	454 097	458 995	393 353
Victoria	North Melbourne	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Queensland	Cannon Hill	564 000	690 000	663 199
Western Australia	East Victoria Park	661 315	620 509	439 968
Northern Territory	Darwin	351 278	361 394	341 108
South Australia	Adelaide	156 000	148 000	128 841
Tasmania	Hobart – Macquarie St	36 630	32 340	25 490
Tasmania	Hobart – Melville St	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.

n.a. Not available.

Table 34 – National Archives of Australia natural gas consumption, 2005–06 to 2007–08 (megajoules)

State		2005–06	2006–07	2007–08
Australian Capital Territory	Parkes	2 493 876	2 520 216	2 367 120
	Mitchell	3 871 304	3 248 770	2 746 153
	Greenway	833 597	899 227	1 088 892
	Hume	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
New South Wales	Chester Hill	718 721	580 100	366 700
Victoria	East Burwood	1 678 717	1 474 440	682 056
Victoria	North Melbourne	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Queensland	Cannon Hill	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Western Australia	East Victoria Park	658 591	420 128	480 414
Northern Territory	Darwin	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
South Australia	Adelaide	80 400	86 500	54 000
Tasmania	Hobart – Macquarie St	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Tasmania	Hobart – Melville St	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.

n.a. Not available.

Joint energy procurement

The collaborative electrical power procurement arrangements with the Department of Defence have provided significant savings to the property operating expenses of the Archives’ ACT sites. However, as electrical power costs increased significantly during the year, reliance on natural gas is expected to increase. Consequently, the recently established joint procurement of natural gas among Canberra-based cultural institutions is anticipated to provide further opportunities for savings in energy costs for the Archives’ sites.

Waste

The Archives uses a significant amount of acid-free cardboard boxes and packaging paper to store and preserve records. Throughout 2007–08 waste from the ACT sites, including paper and paper products, toner cartridges, classified waste, photocopiers and mobile phones, continued to be weighed and monitored. Table 35 provides information about waste produced by the Archives’ Parkes, Mitchell and Greenway offices in the ACT.

Table 35 – Waste produced by ACT sites, 2007–08 (kilograms)

	Parkes	Mitchell	Greenway
General waste	13 800	9 120	2 160
Cardboard and paper recycling	6 600	1 920	540
Total	20 400	11 040	2 700

Table 36 – Recycling waste produced by state and territory sites, 2007–08 (kilograms)

	Sydney	Melbourne	Brisbane	Perth	Hobart	Adelaide	Darwin
Cardboard and paper recycling	4 480	845	2 534	2 640	1 524	168	1 690

Paper use

Paper usage at the Archives’ ACT sites in Parkes and Mitchell reduced by 26.4 per cent in 2007–08 compared with 2006–07. During the reporting period, the Archives purchased paper stock with a recycled component of 50 per cent. Previously, the paper purchased only had a recycled component of 30 per cent. Paper use in the Archives’ state and territory offices will be closely monitored in 2008–09.

Table 37 – Paper used at Parkes and Mitchell sites, 2006–07 and 2007–08 (reams)

	2006–07	2007–08
Parkes, ACT	3 240	2 700
Mitchell, ACT	1 890	1 080
Total	5 130	3 780

Solar energy

The Archives’ solar energy installations at its offices in Parkes (ACT) and Cannon Hill (Queensland) continue to contribute green energy with an associated reduction in CO₂ emissions. Solar energy accounted for approximately 25 per cent of total energy consumed at the Cannon Hill site. Table 38 provides information about solar energy usage and associated reductions in CO₂ emissions at the Archives’ Parkes and Cannon Hill offices.

Table 38 – Solar energy usage and CO₂ emissions at Parkes and Cannon Hill sites, 2007–08

	Solar energy generated (kilowatt hours)	Reduction in CO₂ emissions (kilograms)
Parkes, ACT	3 076	2 153
Cannon Hill, Queensland	34 143	193 763
Total	37 219	195 916

Water usage

The Archives continues to monitor its water usage across all sites. In 2007–08, water-saving devices were fitted to taps and showers at the Archives’ Parkes office as a water-saving measure. This practice will be progressively expanded to all Archives sites.

Table 39 – National Archives of Australia water consumption, 2003–04 to 2007–08 (kilolitres)

		2003–04	2004–05	2005–06	2006–07	2007–08
Australian Capital Territory	Parkes	1 010	1 323	1 562	1 682	2 119
	Mitchell	6 320	6 272	6 509	5 314	6 217
	Greenway	1 765	1 850	4 850	5 925	5 165
	Hume	8	5	6	4	5
	Essington St*	42	44	3	–	–
New South Wales	Chester Hill	1 317	1 683	2 271	1 945	1 917
Victoria	East Burwood	4 163	5 401	5 888	5 454	5 312
Victoria	North Melbourne**	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Queensland	Cannon Hill**	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Western Australia	East Victoria Park	1 663	1 754	1 833	1 973	1 261
Northern Territory	Darwin	1 312	1 064	1 132	987	1 067
South Australia	Adelaide	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.	n.a.
Tasmania	Hobart – Macquarie St	45	48	57	45	48
Tasmania	Hobart – Melville St	n.a.	23	39	36	39
Total		17 645	19 467	24 150	23 365	23 150

– Not applicable.
n.a. Not available.
* The Archives vacated the premises in August 2006.
** The cost of water consumption is part of the landlord’s responsibility,
therefore the amount of water consumed is not made available to the Archives.

Fleet and executive vehicles

The number of vehicles in the Archives’ national fleet decreased following a review of operational requirements. An associated reduction in SES fleet vehicles also occurred with changes in salary packaging arrangements.

A selection of smaller four-cylinder vehicles, where operational needs permit, has resulted in significant savings during 2007–08. Table 40 provides details of fleet vehicles used by the Archives nationally.

Table 40 – National Archives of Australia fleet vehicles, 2006–08 (number)

	2006	2007	2008
General fleet	18	10	8
SES fleet	4	2	2

Table 41 – Emissions and fuel consumption of fleet vehicles, 2005–06 to 2007–08

	2005–06	2006–07	2007–08
Total number of vehicles	18	10	8
Fuel consumed (litres)	41 106	27 517	n.a.
Energy used (gigajoules)	1 413	947	n.a.
Distance travelled (kilometres)	381 936	261 959	n.a.
Energy use intensity (megajoules per kilometre)	4	4	n.a.
Energy use intensity (litres per 100 kilometres)	11	11	n.a.
Vehicles with green score >10.5 (%)	19	31	n.a.

n.a. Not available
Note: Data for 2007–08 is not yet available due to the Archives' obligations under Government Greenhouse Energy reporting. The data is available annually in September.