Annual Report 2006 (main body) - RTA - NSW Government

Use of energy efficient Light Emitting
Diode (LED) technology at newlysignalised
intersections. Refer to page
29 for details.
A project is underway to rationalise
the number of printers, copiers and
faxes within the organisation.
The number of petrol-electric hybrid
vehicles in the RTA fleet was increased
to from 21 to 23.
The RTA Motor Vehicle Clean Fleet
Improvement Plan 2005–07
commenced in July 2005. Strategies
have been developed to make the
RTA motor vehicle fleet cleaner
without impact on operational and
business needs. The RTA is actively
working towards achieving the
Premier’s Environmental Performance
Score targets by replacing low scoring
six cylinder vehicles with higher scoring
hybrid or four cylinder vehicles.
Air conditioning improvements
at a number of sites.
Ongoing purchase of Green Power.
Sooriakumar Vaithailingam with a light emitting diode (LED) traffic light, one of hundreds being installed
over a three-year program to reduce electricity use.
The RTA monitors energy use within office
buildings, infrastructure and transport and
is required to submit an annual GEMP
progress report to the Department of
Energy, Utilities and Sustainability.
RTA
GREENHOUSE
PLAN
A draft RTA Greenhouse Plan has been
developed in response to the 2000–01
RTA Greenhouse Gas Inventory. The
draft Plan includes actions to reduce
greenhouse emissions and improve air
quality and has been aligned to the
NSW Greenhouse Plan. For further
greenhouse information refer to
Reducing vehicle emissions section.
Participation in NSW Greenhouse
Gas Abatement Scheme
In September 2005 the RTA gained
accreditation from the NSW Independent
Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART) to
create and trade carbon credits associated
with the introduction of LED traffic signals.
The RTA may now create tradeable carbon
credits for every tonne of carbon dioxide
gases avoided through the introduction of
this energy efficient technology.The credits
may be traded to NSW electricity retailers
under a trading scheme established by
the NSW Electricity Supply Act 1995.
Light Emitting Diode
traffic signal rollout
Staff received an RTA award for an innovative
project to replace older traffic signals with
energy efficient LED technology. The LED
technology provides substantial economic,
environmental and social benefits for the
community. This $18 million, three-year
project will reduce RTA electricity use by
over 10 gigawatt hours per year – nearly
three and a half times the electricity used
each year by the RTA Centennial Plaza
building. In addition to the significant
environmental benefits and cost savings, the
new technology should also have lower
failure rates and require less maintenance,
leading to improved road network safety and
less risk for traffic signal maintenance staff.
LAND AND WATER
The Blue Book
Development of the new Volume 2 of
‘Managing Urban Stormwater – Soils and
Construction’ (the blue book) continued
during 2005–06. The new volume will
provide guidance in erosion and sediment
control for a range of developments
including major highway and infrastructure
56 POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL AND URBAN DESIGN OUTCOMES