Council Minutes - Town of Cambridge

COUNCIL MINUTES
TUESDAY 28 AUGUST 2012
3.2. Switch Your Thinking
The Town of Cambridge is a member of the Switch Your Thinking (Syt!) Program. The
program is supported by seven other WA Metropolitan Local Governments and assists
Councils to work with their communities in the implementation of measures that saves
energy and water consumption consequently reducing operating costs and greenhouse gas
emissions.
Residents and businesses are eligible for discounts on a wide variety of products including
Solar Panels, Energy Meters, Rainwater Tanks, Pool Covers and Insulation Paint. The
Switch Your Thinking rebates are in addition to any state or federal government rebates for
which residents may also be eligible.
Floreat SLSC made use of the rebates scheme by installing energy efficient heat pumps
instead of electric hot water systems in their club change rooms through Solahart.
An additional component of the Switch Your Thinking Program is the establishment of a
Switched on Staff Team. The Cambridge team was established in 2011 and consist of
various staff members from out centres and the administration building. The Team has been
engaged to examine ways of reducing green house gas emissions at Council facilities and
has been engaged in staff behaviour changes.
3.3. Greensense View Real-time Building Monitoring
The Town has recently installed a Greensense View Portal at the Town's Administration
Building and the Library-Boulevard Centre.
The portal (http://www.greensenseview.com/Home/Profile/Cambridge) provides an online
dashboard viewing service for electricity and water usage. Reports are generated for
electricity and water usage as well as solar power generation. Water leaks and unexpected
electricity usage can be detected. Information obtained from the system can be used for the
compilation of electricity and water efficiency programs. It also allows for the monitoring of
these programs once installed.
The community can access dashboards on the "Sustainability Station" in the Town
Administration building foyer and the Library-Boulevard Centre, via this portal or by visiting
http://www.greensenseview.com/.
The Greensense View Portal has recently been used by the Library-Boulevard to track an
anomaly in overnight water consumption. Peaks of up to 1200L/min were detected when the
building was not occupied and the reticulation system was turned off. As a result of active
monitoring by Library staff members the Water Corporation's Water Efficiency branch is
currently assisting the Town to identify the cause of the unexpected water consumption.
4. Other School Projects
Sustainability Services provides in kind and financial assistance to local schools. The
following schools received support:-
• In 2011 funds were provided to Lake Monger Primary School for a sustainable garden.
• Later in the year an additional project was initiated between the Primary School, the
West Leederville Community Garden and the Council to establish a food garden.
• In 2011 Floreat Park Primary School obtained funds to establish a Frog Habitat.
• A Frog Habitat Workshop by Johnny Profumo, the Frog Doctor, was arranged at
Floreat Park Primary School.
• In 2012 follow up funding were provided for placing information signs in the garden.
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