Federal Government departments have cut their greenhouse gas emissions for the fifth consecutive year and in doing so saved $30 million in energy bills.
Environmentally friendly power sources, more efficient technology and better lighting systems have contributed to the 0.8 per cent cut in emissions.
The Australian Greenhouse Office, in a report into energy and greenhouse emissions by government departments, found total energy con-sumption fell by 1.15 per cent.
The greenhouse office said federal departments, agencies and Commonwealth buildings produced 2.6 million tonnes of greenhouse gas in 2002-03. When defence establishments, which do not fall within the Government's energy policy programs, were excluded, total greenhouse emissions were 1.5 million tonnes.
"Computer power management systems, improving efficiency of lighting . . . more energy-efficient premises and better monitoring and targeting systems are some of the vehicles by which agencies have achieved this improvement," the greenhouse office said.
Total greenhouse gas emissions from government departments have dropped 12.7 per cent since 1998-99. One of the major improvements has been the use of "greenpower", power generated from sources that do not produce greenhouse gases. Use of greenpower sources rose almost 200 per cent. Electricity and natural gas remain the most common sources of energy.
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