The New South Wales government has released an updated Government Resource Efficiency Policy (GREP). The aim of the GREP is to reduce the state government’s operating costs, and to lead by example in increasing its resource use efficiency.
The updated policy will continue to drive resource efficiency by NSW government agencies in four main areas: energy, water, waste, and air emissions from government operations.
AIRAH’s executive manager – government relations and technical services is Phil Wilkinson, F.AIRAH. He says that the HVAC&R industry should take note of the requirements for air-cooled and water-cooled chillers, refrigerated commercial display cabinets, closed-control air conditioners, air-to-air heat pumps and air conditioners.
This policy is designed to ensure the agencies:
- Meet the challenge of rising costs for energy, water, clean air and waste management
- Use purchasing power to drive down the cost of resource-efficient technologies and services
- Show leadership by incorporating resource efficiency in decision-making.
The GREP was first introduced in 2014. It was then reviewed in 2018 to take into account implementation challenges, technology development and market trends.
This policy applies to all general government sector agencies. For agencies with fewer than 100 employees, the implementation of and reporting on this policy is voluntary. Local government, state-owned corporations, public trading enterprises and public financial enterprises are encouraged to adopt the approach outlined by the GREP.
The NSW Office of Environment and Heritage will coordinate the delivery of this policy, publish its results and carry out its next review in 2020.