Browsing: <a href="/tag/energy-efficiency">Energy efficiency</a> <i class="grey">•</i> <a href="/tag/good-practice-how-to">Good practice, how to</a>

A new NSW Government guide says energy bills for lighting can be dramatically reduced, offers detailed advice on choosing technologies and describes how to calculate the energy savings certificates your actions could earn.

The 252 corporations covered by the Energy Efficiency Opportunities scheme have identified projects to save an amount of energy equivalent to 2.8% of Australia's total use, and have adopted just over half of these, according to a new analysis (with case studies).

Thanks to new software, News Ltd has so far reduced power use on its thousands of PCs by 27%, delivering an expected saving on power bills of $170,000 a year.

High quality sub-metering data has allowed Sydney City to negotiate a contract with Origin for retrofits that will deliver energy and water savings worth more than $1 million annually, says the council's development coordinator Steve Castell.

Australia Post's facilities management team has made giant inroads in reducing energy use, singlehandedly delivering more than the organisation-wide target for greenhouse gas abatement in 2010-11.

By automating refrigeration systems to match its events schedule, a trial shows the Victoria Racing Club could reduce refrigeration energy costs by about 60%.

The key to cutting energy use is to treat it as a raw material, according to 3M's Steve Schultz, who says voluntary programs and the new ISO50001 standard can help engage top management in the task of driving change.

• Investa uses the 'people factor' to turbocharge efficiency
  
• Woolworths' two-step approach to proving efficiency gains
  
• Cogeneration helps BASF beat energy and emissions targets
  
• Government seeks consultant to review $1.5bn Water Smart program

• NSW raids climate fund for $138m to help plug 'Solar Bonus' blowout
  
• Wine maker almost halves energy use
  
• Daintree Systems receives technology grant for lighting control system
  
• CitySwitch energy efficiency program gains new members
  
• Local government lobbies for Budget environment funding boost

A new report has revealed major opportunities for New Zealand's dairy industry to reduce electricity use, while Australian dairy farmers are also exploring energy efficiency options.