Sustainability Victoria, an environmental arm of the Victorian government, has devised the 5 Star Sustainability for Government, an interactive sustainability benchmarking tool created for public organisations.
Government agencies and departments in Victoria must register and log-in at the 5 Star Sustainability website (www.5starsustainability.vic.gov.au) to use the tool.
Since it was launched in September last year, 29 small and large government agencies and departments have signed up to use the tool.
Next month, Sustainability Victoria will release a version of the tool specifically for local governments.
Under the 5 Star Sustainability tool, registered users are given a simple “question and answer” self-assessment test that will allow them to measure the environmental feasibility of their operations and strategies.
The objective of the 5 Star Sustainability tool is to aid public organisations in achieving a 5Star. Through the tool, users will learn what areas they must improve on.
The tool applies sixteen criteria for evaluation. Five questions fall under each criteria, with users awarded up to five stars for each positive response per category.
The criteria include environmental policy, action plan, resources and responsibilities, targets, core business, energy, waste, water, transport, procurement, buildings, behaviour change, external engagement, monitoring systems, internal environmental reporting, and external environmental reporting.
Both behaviour change and infrastructure elements are being considered in the criteria.
“You can’t have one without the other. For example, you can have the most energy efficient infrastructure in your workplace but if staff don’t change their behaviour and switch off lights and computers when they’re not in use or put rubbish in the right bins you won’t achieve the best sustainable outcomes,” said Karen Wilson, Manager of Sustainability Government at Sustainability Victoria.
“That’s why all approaches require both elements of efficient infrastructure and behaviour change amongst the people who interact with the infrastructure,” she added.
Progress from one to five stars per category depends on how the organisation meets the set criteria.
Sustainability Australia partnered with local government agencies and departments to develop the criteria, guaranteeing their relevance to users.
After using tool, users will receive an action plan, as well as a report with an analysis of their environmental performance, and links to information, activities and instruments that they may use to increase their star rating.
From the results of the tool, users may also obtain a certification to verify their score. Their star rating may be publicised and used to display their commitment to environmental leadership.
To attain five stars, users must apply the best practice in policies, programs and performance, as well as displaying leadership within their sector.
Putting the tool online has allowed Sustainability Victoria to do away with paper, easily update the tool and track its users.
In the opposite end, users are able to enter their data and instantly receive the results.
The 5StarSustainability website has received over 650 unique visitors since its launch.
To Sustainability Victoria, the concept of sustainability must be added into all aspects of Victorian life, with the government leading by example.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Johanna Morden
Quelle/Source: futureGov, 08.03.2011
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