Reducing Council's corporate emissions

Moreland City Council has been investing in action and advocacy to address climate change and reduce corporate and community greenhouse gas emissions for over two decades.

In 2018 Council agreed the Zero Carbon Merri-bek – Climate Emergency 2040 Framework (PDF 1Mb), This framework provides a pathway for Merri-bek City Council to maintain its commitment of carbon neutrality for Council’s corporate operations and reach for a zero-carbon municipality by 2040.

How are we tracking?

Council actions to reduce our operational carbon emissions are delivering great results. Our goal for 2019/20 was for emissions to be 30% less than the baseline year of 2011, with a stretch goal of 40%.

We have achieved a reduction of 69%.

Council is certified as carbon neutral 

Moreland City Council was the second Victorian local government and the third in Australia to be certified carbon neutral for its corporate operations, achieving this in December 2012. Council is Certified Carbon Neutral under the Climate Active national scheme.

To achieve and maintain this certification, each year Council undertakes a continuous improvement approach to carbon management through the following four steps: Measure, Reduce, Generate and Offset. Council is required to undertake external verification of its carbon neutrality accounting every three years.

Our 2019-20 report has been submitted and is in review, but you can download our Carbon Neutral Program Public Disclosure Summary 2018-19 here (PDF 824Kb).

You can also download our most recent Audit Assurance statement here (PDF 792Kb).

How have we achieved the reductions?

We have reduced our emissions through the following key projects:

Melbourne Renewable Energy Project

Moreland Council is now powered by 100% home grown renewable energy. On 1 January 2019, Merri-bek began purchasing all its electricity for Council operations from the Crowlands Wind Farm in north west Victoria. This includes electricity fo all our street lights, Council buildings, public barbecues, and electric vehicle chargers. Learn more about the Melbourne Renewable Energy Project.

Improving Council Buildings

Council has carried out significant works to improve energy efficiency at many of our key buildings, including Coburg Civic Centre, Brunswick Town Hall precinct, Merri-bek's Libraries and Leisure Centres. Works includes: insulation upgrades, LED lighting retrofits, double-glazing retrofits and and improving the efficiency of heating and air-conditioning systems.

Since 2011 over 826kW of solar has been installed on council building producing clean, green energy. Learn more about how we have improved Council buildings.

Solar on Council Leased Buildings

Council owns a number of buildings which they lease to community organisations, such as sports clubs and kindergartens. Under the Solar on Leased programme, Council will pay the upfront costs to install solar, as well as maintaining it. Tenants repay the capital costs over 7 – 10 years using the savings from their electricity bills. The tenants see some cost savings from day one, and once the solar is paid-off they get the full cost savings, without ever having to outlay capital.

Learn more about Solar on Council Leased Buildings.

Electric Vehicle Fleet

Moreland Council now has 25 pure electric vehicles (EVs) in its light vehicle fleet. This is the largest Council EV fleet in Victoria. Council has 11  EV charging stations including five fast chargers. Charging is both zero-carbon, with electricity supplied through Crowlands Wind Farm, and free.

Heading to 100% emissions reduction by 2040

Council will continue to reduce carbon emissions by:

• Converting our vehicle fleet to electric vehicles, focussing on light fleet but including heavier vehicles where appropriate.
• Expanding out public EV charging network, and trialling on-street charging with our local utilities.
• Continue the collaboration with partner councils in the development and implementation of a transport hydrogen refuelling station that could be utilised by Merri-bek’s heavy fleet in the future.
• Progressively transitioning our remaining street lights to LED.
• Progressively transitioning our buildings from gas to zero-carbon electricity.
• Continuing to improve the energy efficiency of all facilities.
• Installing solar photovoltaic where feasible, both on Council-occupied buildings and leased properties, through the Solar on Leased program.

Learn more about how the Merri-bek community is working together to can take strong climate action by visiting the Zero Carbon Merri-bek website.

If you have trouble opening or viewing a PDF document, contact Council and we will arrange to provide the information in a format that suits your needs. See Council's accessibility page for further details.