Energy

The EMRC has a long history of energy and emissions reduction projects, dating back to 1993. 

Click here for the full list of the EMRC Emissions Reduction projects.

Green Power Purchase Agreement

In November 2021, EMRC and our member Councils joined nearly 50 other Local Governments in a landmark agreement with Synergy, negotiated by WALGA. The initiative will supply renewable energy accessed from WA’s Albany, Emu Downs and Collgar wind farms.

Of the 48 local governments, 43 plan to go to 100% renewable at the contract commencement in April 2022, with the remainder to transition over three years.

From 1 December 2022 all EMRC sites, including the Ascot Place administration office, Red Hill Waste Management Facility and Hazelmere Resource Recovery Park, will be supplied with electricity from 100% renewable sources, reducing our annual emissions by approximately 770 t CO2-e. One important step toward towards our journey to Net Zero.

Wind Farm Emu Downs

Achieving Carbon Emission Reduction (ACER) Program

The EMRC’s ACER program is a long-standing initiative that commenced in 2009 and has continued to evolve to meet the needs of member Councils. It was developed to continue momentum and fill the gap created by the defunding of the Federal Government’s Cities for Climate Protection (CPP) Program.

The ACER program is governed by a carbon management framework that includes a cyclical process to monitor, review and improve. The ACER Program has two modules:

  • Energy Data Management – includes a quarterly performance reviews to verify energy and emission data, and an Annual Energy and Emission Data Analysis Report and Snapshot.
  • Climate, Energy and Emission Action – includes support to progress strategies, plans and actions to meet emission reduction targets, emission reduction action plan review, provision and maintenance of Home Energy Audit Kits, support participation in Cities Power Partnership, and review other related plans, strategies and policies, (e.g., Urban Forest, Climate Change Adaptation). 

The EMRC also undertakes a multitude of small research projects for our ACER Councils including, but not limited to:

  • Carbon credits and offsets
  • Carbon accounting and emission reporting
  • Sustainable urban infill and development certification
  • Blockchain technology for sustainability outcomes

      Past Energy Projects

      Benchmarking Building Efficiency (BBE)

      The two-year BBE project, completed in 2021, involved energy audits and benchmarking assessments of 78 local government facilities across the Town of Bassendean, City of Bayswater, City of Belmont, Shire of Mundaring and City of Swan.

      The project provided comparable benchmarks for buildings with similar functions and recommendations for energy efficiency initiatives, retrofits and investments. The project’s outputs support participating councils to seek funding and continue implementing energy efficiency initiatives with individual facility and regional-scale building energy information.

      Re-energising Perth’s Eastern Region - Community Energy Efficiency Program (CEEP)

      EMRC received nearly $647,000 in co-funding from the Australian Government for the $1.4 million Re-energising Perth's Eastern Region project. The EMRC, Town of Bassendean, City of Bayswater and Shire of Mundaring collaborated to undertake much needed energy efficiency upgrades and retrofits at four community facilities including:

      • Old Perth Road (Town of Bassendean) – LED street lighting upgrade. Achieved a 1% reduction in energy use (11,676 kWh).
      • Bayswater Community Library (City of Bayswater) – Internal lighting and air conditioning upgrades. Achieved a 34.7% reduction in energy use (25,614 kWh).
      • Bayswater Waves Aquatic Centre (City of Bayswater) – Pool pump efficiency and internal lighting upgrades. Achieved a 25.3% reduction in energy use (645,520 kWh).
      • Bilgoman Pool (Shire of Mundaring) – Solar pool water heating and pool pump efficiency upgrades. Achieved a 40.9% reduction in energy use (146,981 kWh).
      • Re-energising Perth’s Eastern Region https://www.emrc.org.au/sustainability/environmental-services/environmental-projects/re-energising-perth-s-eastern-region.aspx

      Perth Solar City

      Perth Solar City was part of the Australian Government’s $94 million Solar Cities programme, that spanned from 2009-2013, designed to understand the benefits and barriers to the uptake of renewable energy and energy efficiency. Perth Solar City was one of seven designated Solar Cities across Australia and the only Solar City in WA.