The 2015 National CitySwitch awards, which recognise outstanding achievements in reducing energy consumption and prioritising sustainability, have been won by two Western Australian-based business.
The Western Australian Local Government Association (WALGA) and the WA Housing Authority, were announced winners of their respective categories at the official National CitySwitch Awards Ceremony on Tuesday 24 November in Sydney. International law firm Allens, who have a participating office in Perth, took out the other national award.
In the WA State Awards Ceremony last week, WALGA, the WA Housing Authority and Allens took out the top spots along with the RAC, which won Signatory of the Year Over 2,000 square metres.
CitySwitch is a national program run by local governments to deliver high value, zero cost support services and advice, for commercial office tenants to improve their energy efficiency.
Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi said she was very proud to see Western Australian businesses setting the bench mark when it comes to being environmentally conscious.
“Renewable energy, technology upgrades and behavioural change were all big themes in this year’s awards,” Ms Scaffidi said.
“Many CitySwitch Signatories focused on making small changes that have big results – such as implementing intiatives to ensure office lights are not left on and promoting the use of alternate active transport options to get to work.
“Others like WALGA and RAC have fitted fantastic new and very large solar installations.”
The City of Perth has run CitySwitch in Western Australia for the past eight years and the program now has sixty signatories making energy conscious decisions across 300,000 square metres of office space in Perth’s CBD.
Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi said the program provides Perth based businesses the opportunity to network, collaborate and share sustainable ideas to reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions.
“The WA Housing Authority set a great example of collaboration by partnering with Curtin University students to update their organisation’s Sustainability Action Plan,” Ms Scaffidi said.
“These students are the next generation of professionals, so it is important to teach and embed sustainable practices early in their careers.
“CitySwitch is an initiative that’s good for business, good for people, good for the planet and I’d encourage every Perth business to be a part of it.”
To find out more about the CitySwitch program, click here.