BREAZE

Business and industry have the capacity to make a significant impact on carbon emissions. This can be done through improvements to efficiency and by investing in zero emission technology. Our research shows that industrial/large energy customers account for around 50% of Ballarat's total electricity use (based on ABARE per capita interpolation), ie about 315,000 Megawatt hours – and this is spread over a small customer base of about 480 businesses.

Encouraging business and industry energy efficiency on the demand side could save these businesses money as well as reducing greenhouse emissions. The implementation of energy efficiency measures in other industries in Central Victoria is described in the Maines power project http://www.csiro.au/resources/MainesPowerFactsheet.html which aims to achieve a 30% improvement in energy efficiency.

Resources:

Understanding Carbon Management

The EPA provides an excellent resource to approaching emissions management through its carbon management site - see http://www.epa.vic.gov.au/climate-change/carbon-management/ based on the diagram below. For active links, use the Carbon Management Principles resources page.

This site also provides links to the carbon innovators group where industry innovators and leaders share their experience.

Sustainability and business

Businesses wanting to make their operations more sustainable can also check out the ResourceSmart site: www.ResourceSmart.vic.gov.au/for_businesses.html. Links include:

· how to do lifecycle analysis of products and create sustainable designs

· information on waste management and recycling

· energy efficiency

· information on rebates and other assistance available.

Carbon Down is a climate change partnership between VECCI and Sustainability Victoria.  It aims to support small to medium enterprises to reduce their carbon footprint through innovative and practical solutions.

Carbon Compass - Carbon reducing solutions and information for your Victorian business.

http://carboncompass.com.au/

Carbon Compass is an on‐line community which will revolutionise the way small to medium businesses learn about Carbon reduction.

Launching on Tuesday March 30th 2010, Carbon Compass provides businesses with access to practical solutions  which have been implemented by other businesses and organisations, making Carbon Compass a unique sustainability hub.

Water

The Victoria State Government also supplies detailed information on programs, opportunities and rebates through the Ourwater site: http://www.ourwater.vic.gov.au/saving/industry and http://www.ourwater.vic.gov.au/saving/farms

Building and design

Building design http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/government/publications/esd-design/index.html

http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/government/publications/esd-design/pubs/esd-design-guide.pdf

Reducing Carbon Emissions: A guide for architects are guidelines developed by the New South Wales Architects Registration Board, that provide a starting point for all small architectural firms wishing to reduce their carbon emissions.

Food industry

Specific support for restaurants and caterers http://www.greentable.com.au/

Greenhouse Challenge Plus

Greenhouse Challenge Plus is designed for Australian companies to establish working partnerships with the Australian Government to improve energy efficiency and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. It includes some great assessment and auditing tools. http://www.environment.gov.au/settlements/challenge/index.html

Training and skill development

Training and assistance for Ballarat business to make their operations more sustainable is provided through http://www.mysmartgreen.com.au/cb_pages/learning.php