The emissions intensity provides a measure to compare emissions associated with electricity generation. Hydro Tasmania’s emissions intensity is shown in Figure 31.¹¹

Our 2008/09 data for emissions and energy use will be finalised following verification. The final figures will be published on our web site by December 2009.

The reduction in Hydro Tasmania’s carbon intensity this year is predominantly due to the reduced use of our only gas-fired power station at Bell Bay, and its closure in April 2009.

• We no longer use full fuel cycles when calculating emissions from Bass Strait islands diesel use, Bell Bay natural gas use, whole business electricity use and vehicle fleet fuel use; and
• All scope 1 and 2 emissions are reported as required by NGER and the scope 3 emissions that are deemed most critical to the business are also reported. These scope 3 emissions include hire car use, aircraft hire and commercial flights as reported in previous years with the addition of shuttle bus use and staff commuting to the Cambridge office to give the opportunity to reduce these emissions; and
• Electricity usage is split between ‘buildings and facilities’ (which includes all dwellings, offices, communication facilities and other buildings) and ‘pumps and power stations’.

These changes reduce comparability with previous years’ reports.

Climate change response strategy Responding to the challenges of climate change is not always about the big issues. Sometimes it is the little things that count. On a trip back from Hobart airport late one evening Building Services Officer Ken Siddall noticed Hydro Tasmania Consulting’s Cambridge office was lit up like the MCG. “It seemed like a huge waste when no one was there working. I also knew how much the power bill was so I started looking at how the lights were controlled and came up with the time clock. This turns off many of the car park lights and will save around 6,500 kilowatt hours of electricity each year, which is equivalent to more than half the annual electricity used in the average Tasmanian home.” The result is a reduction in both the building’s power bill and its annual carbon footprint.

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