City of Sydney grants will support buildings across Sydney to tackle climate change with innovative recycling and energy efficiency measures, while a new study will help tackle problem polystyrene waste.
The City has awarded 19 grants to commercial property owners, hotel operators and apartment block managers to introduce efficiency measures through water, waste, recycling and solar energy programs.
Funding has also been provided for a UTS feasibility study to look at recycling and reusing polystyrene.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said the grants totalling $244,108 was another example of how the City is taking practical action on climate change.
“Through our environmental grants program, we support building owners to undertake energy efficiency ratings and assessments so that they can better understand their environmental performance,” the Lord Mayor said.
“Without measuring and understanding how a building is performing, it is almost impossible to identify – and critically, act on – opportunities to improve.
“These energy audits help us to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and develop more sustainable resources across our city.
“I am also proud to support the University of Technology in their bid to develop a groundbreaking approach to reusing and recycling polystyrene. Climate action requires a collaborative approach from governments, industry, academics and of course residents and if the study goes well we could be rolling out this pioneering approach to waste management across our city in the future.”
The buildings will undergo sustainability performance ratings and assessments and efficiency recommendations adopted as part of the grant agreements. Environmental performance ratings and assessment grant recipients include:
The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) will receive funding for a pilot project that uses digital technology to recycle and reuse expanded polystyrene collected at the campus. If successful, the system could be used by other organisations.
Dr Nik Florin of UTS said the feasibility project will use digital technologies to reduce problem waste recycling.
“Expanded polystyrene is a problem waste stream in the local area with few local solutions. This project will test a closed-loop recycling system to transform it into reusable, durable products that benefit the community,” Dr Florin said.
“The proposed system will reduce polystyrene waste through recycling, reducing the need for products made from ‘virgin plastics’ and develop an education campaign about problem waste recycling.
“As well as sharing these skills with the broader UTS community, we will look at ways to adapt and transfer the system with existing buildings within the City of Sydney area.”
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For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, please contact Julia Lenton. Phone 0410 748 039 or email jlenton@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au