What we're doing to minimise our impacts
One of the most significant sustainability issues for a research organisation like Manaaki Whenua is how to reduce air travel, the biggest contributor to our CO2 emissions, while maintaining the national and international programmes and networks essential to ensuring our science stays at the forefront of innovative research. Our only realistic option to reduce net emissions is by continuing to offset them through EBEX21® forests.
| Energy usage |
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| The biggest increase in electricity use is attributed to our Tamaki site. The Tamaki facilities have double the floor area and better equipped laboratories compared to the previous site in Auckland. In addition, the biological collections are now housed in climate controlled vaults of international standard, conditions not available previously. |
| Travel |
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| Videoconference units at all our main sites and two of our smaller sites have helped internal communication. While the technology appears to have improved inter-site communication, it has not significantly reduced air travel. |
| Paper use & recycling |
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| The volume of paper being recyced dropped this year. Last year’s peak was may need to begin planning installation of water management largely due to Auckland staff having a major office clean out before moving to features, such as raingardens and swales, at other sites. the new facilities at Tamaki. |
Zero net emissions this year
We purchased EBEX21® CO2 units from an additional 242 ha of regenerating mānuka/beech forest in Hinewai Reserve, near Akaroa on Banks Peninsula to offset an estimated total of 1625 tonnes of CO2emissions for this year. Our actual emissions amounted to 1669 tonnes (see key performance indicators). We expect to be emissions-neutral next year as we are continuing to purchase credits up until 2007. Then all carbon credits become the property of the Government, which can then reallocate non-harvest sinks to the landowner. Early indications are that the Government is not likely to provide incentives for voluntary offsetting. Manaaki Whenua will review its offset strategy when more information becomes available.
Mixed vehicle fleet
Extensive field research, often at sites with diffcult access, means we need to maintain a mix of vehicles including utilities, vans and 4WD, and more effcient vehicles for main-road use. We have one hybrid fuel-electric car at Lincoln, one at our Hamilton site, and plans for a hybrid vehicle at our Palmerston North site in 2006. Our voluntary sustainability groups also began an active programme of encouraging staff to travel to work in more sustainable ways-by joining car pools, using public transport, or cycling. These initiatives were highlighted during our in-house sustainability week and will be part of an ongoing campaign.
Energy use continues to be challenging
We continue to monitor energy use associated with running our sites. Achieving reductions remains challenging for existing buildings. Our new buildings, and extensions to existing buildings, are being designed with energy-effcient features including double-glazing and extra-thick insulation. However, because of an increase in floor area, and laboratory and collection storage specifications at Tamaki, our total energy use has increased. Therefore we are unlikely to meet our target of reducing our electricity consumption by 15% from 2002 to 2006.
Water use and waste water management
Water use and waste-water management are not yet widely
recognised as critical issues for New Zealand but we believe
they soon will be. At our new Tamaki building in Auckland, we
have greatly reduced our reliance on municipal systems. We also
monitor water use at our Palmerston North site, and hope to be
able to do so at other sites in the future. We recognise that we
may need to begin planning installation of water management
features, such as raingardens and swales, at other sites.
Waste minimisation goals
Manaaki Whenua continues to maintain a very proactive stance on waste-to-landfill minimisation—we have a target of zero waste to landfill by 2010. Throughout the organisation we have strong programmes covering paper-recycling, and organic-waste composting, which are run by the sustainability groups. An extensive web “staffroom” obviates much of the need for paper forms, manuals, newsletters and notices.
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On our website |
| Supporting information - environmental performance |