Corrections looks to a sustainable future with solar panels at Rimutaka Prison. Energy Manager Cees Ebskamp, Rimutaka Prison Assets & Property Supervisor Brian Telfer and Administrator Business Support Dennis Hayes inspect a solar panel at Rimutaka Prison.
Corrections’ innovative approach to conserving energy has won the department a Ministry for the Environment Award for the second year running.
Chief Executive Barry Matthews accepted the Govt3 Award for Sustainable Improvements in Energy Efficiency on behalf of Corrections on 9 October.
“Corrections won the Award because it has employed a full-time energy manager, significantly reduced energy use per prisoner, installed solar hot water systems and demonstrated long term commitment to energy saving,” says Govt3 Project Leader Kathryn Maxwell.
Since 2002 Corrections has reduced energy use by 9.5 percent per prisoner through its energy saving initiatives. This represents a cost saving of $1.2 million in today’s dollars. In addition to the financial benefits, CO2 emissions have also been cut by 37 percent per prisoner since 2002.
Energy Manager Cees Ebskamp says Corrections aims to reduce overall energy cost per prisoner and the award shows it is on the right track.
“We monitor constantly so the prisons know how they're doing. This means we know where to target our efforts and as a result our prisons are making some really great energy savings,” he says.
Recently, Rimutaka Prison Assets & Property Supervisor Brian Telfer worked with Cees’ team to install solar panels at Rimutaka Prison.
“There are five panels up there now, creating all the hot water for the five ‘Release to Work’ houses - that’s a very sustainable solution,” Cees says.
“Making ‘sustainable improvements in energy efficiency’ sounds complicated, but it can be as simple as installing different light fittings or replacing electric heating with much cheaper gas heating.”
The Govt3 Awards were set up in 2005 by the Ministry for the Environment to reward excellence in sustainable business practices among government agencies.
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ISSN 1178-8453