Environment Minister Ian Campbell cited statistics of energy use across 115 government departments and agencies from the annual report Energy Use in the Australian Government’s Operations 2004-2005.

Campbell said since reporting was introduced in 1997 the Australian Government had reduced its energy consumption and GHG emissions, despite increased numbers of government employees or occupants.

“Some of the simple actions undertaken by government agencies have included the upgrading of computer monitors from CRT to LCD technologies, reducing the numbers of light globes while maintaining effective lighting coverage, and refurbishing office space to be more energy efficient,” he said.

“These results show that it is possible for large organisations to reduce energy costs as well as benefit the environment – simply by being smarter energy users.”

The government report reveals that over the past year energy consumption has been cut by 0.89% and GHG emissions by 0.23%.

The uptake of renewable energy has also increased by as much as 96% since last year’s report.

Campbell said in the future agencies were set to make more improvements under the revitalised energy policy, Energy Efficiency in Government Operations (EEGO), which agencies would report under in future years.

“EEGO sets out revised targets for government agencies, which will lead to financial savings, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and energy use,” he said.