Defence Housing Australia

We are committed to improving our environmental performance in accordance with government policy. We manage environmental impacts through a number of policies and administrative controls. We use a range of communication methods, including all staff messages and intranet content, to support staff to mitigate environmental impacts.

Office energy use

We do not have control over the energy efficiency of fixtures and fittings within our offices as they are all commercially leased. However, wherever possible, we reduce energy consumption through the use of:

  • automated essential lighting and heating and cooling outside of business hours
  • power management functionality and features of information communications technology (ICT) equipment.

Energy efficiency is one of a number of factors we take into account when considering new commercial premises for leasing when a current lease is due to expire.

Travel and transport

We encourage staff to use videoconferencing and teleconference technologies as effective alternatives to air travel or the use of fleet vehicles and hire cars. With the exception of Board members and the Managing Director, all travel bookings are managed by a centralised team. Staff must demonstrate a genuine business need to travel and seek delegate approval before requesting a booking.

As at 30 June 2017, we leased 207 vehicles via sgfleet under the Department of Finance fleet service contract. Fleet vehicles are provided where there is a job specific need, including property managers and development managers, or as a pool car for an office. The number and type of vehicles is reviewed periodically to ensure genuine business need.

Resource efficiency and waste

We adopt a number of practices to assist in minimising the disposal of waste to landfill:

  • Each of our offices use recycling systems, including general paper, secure paper, cardboard, plastics, toner cartridges, mobile phones and other equipment.
  • Staff use dual monitors in the office, as well as mobile tablet devices, to reduce paper consumption.
  • Where printing is needed, the default setting is two sided printing in grayscale.
  • We continue to increase the number of transactions staff, customers, contractors and prospective investors can complete online to reduce reliance on printed documentation.

In 2016–17 our Hunter Valley regional office was the first to implement a centralised waste area as an alternative to traditional waste bins at each desk. This has resulted in keeping thousands of plastic bin liners out of landfill and increased recycling rates. This initiative will be one of many environmental projects implemented in our offices in 2017–18.

Property portfolio

We are committed to creating healthy and sustainable communities for ADF members, their families and the broader community.

Design and construction

In designing and constructing properties and communities, we focus on five key areas of sustainability:

  1. Energy consumption
  2. Water consumption
  3. Effective waste management
  4. Human wellbeing
  5. Biodiversity of local flora and fauna.

Since 1 July 2010, all of our new housing has been built to achieve a minimum six star energy rating (EER).35Where possible, housing in our new developments also:

  • complies with the Australian Government’s Livable Housing design guidelines— Silver level (refer to livablehousingaustralia.org.au for more information)
  • seeks to meet the requirements of the Urban Development Institute of Australia’s EnviroDevelopment certification—six leaf level (refer to envirodevelopment.com.au for more information).

35EER must be certified by an independent accredited assessor, using AccuRate (NatHERS replacement), other equivalent methods (e.g. state systems such as BERS Pro and BASIX) or, where permitted, Building Code of Australia Deemed-to-Satisfy provisions.

Two of our development projects were the first in Australia to achieve a 6 Star Green Star design rating from the Green Building Council of Australia:

  • The Prince’s Terrace in Bowden, Adelaide (SA) was the first residential project in Australia to achieve the rating
  • Shout Ridge, a precinct of our Crimson Hill development in Lindfield, Sydney (NSW) was the first apartment project in Australia to achieve the rating.

Heritage properties

On behalf of Defence, we manage and conserve 61 heritage properties at ADF bases and establishments across Australia in accordance with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act). We also own 16 heritage listed properties and two heritage development sites. We plan and undertake conservation activities in accordance with the EPBC Act, a heritage management framework and heritage strategy.