HSRC - Integrated Annual Report 2016/2017

HSRC Annual Report 2016/17

Environmental

Sustainability

The HSRC is committed to sustainability in executing its mandate. It commits to managing its use of electricity, water and

paper, while managing its carbon footprint in the efficient use of its fleet vehicles. The HSRC will adopt digital solutions,

where possible, to contribute to sustainable business practices.

Electricity savings

The Building Management System (BMS) at the HSRC’s Pretoria headquarters deactivates lighting and air conditioning

in the offices, passages, parking basement and auditoria between the hours of 18:00 and 07:00. Only emergency lights

remain on. The BMS is also programmed to keep lights off on public holidays and over weekends. In the regional offices,

staff members are constantly reminded to switch off office lights when leaving the office for the day, thus saving a

significant amount on electricity consumption each month.

Currently the Durban offices are lit from a central switch, however, individual office light switches will be installed in

the near future.

Variable speed drives on three-phase motors are used in the cooling towers to adjust the speed according to the load,

thus saving on electricity and only inverter-type air conditioning units are installed.

Water savings

In the Pretoria offices, the BMS continuously monitors daily water consumption. If a sudden high water demand is

experienced, the Maintenance Department is instantly alerted and investigates the cause, which is usually a leak or

burst pipe that can be corrected immediately.

Recycling

Paper is sorted and suitable paper is kept in a dedicated area in each building from where it is collected weekly.

The HSRC uses a recycling service for the collection of spent fluorescent light tubes. They are safely stored to prevent

breakage, and collected approximately every three months.

Videoconferencing

Videoconferencing facilities were upgraded in 2015/16 to improve the quality of videoconferencing. This has encouraged

staff to travel less and has reduced both the cost of travel and the resultant carbon footprint.

Fleet vehicles

In the reporting period, the HSRC replaced five of its aged fleet vehicles with smaller, more economical vehicles with

lower CO

emissions, thereby further reducing its carbon footprint.

Photocopy and printing services

Staff members are encouraged to print documents double sided as far as possible, to reduce the amount of paper

used in the organisation.

PART C: Governance