By Staff Writer

More than 80 per cent of NSW Government-owned offices rate 3 stars or above for energy efficiency, with 20 per cent rating the highest 5 stars, according to NSW Minister for Climate Change, Environment and Water, Phil Koperburg.

Mr Kopertburg says a snapshot of energy performance and the status of water and energy savings plans was conducted for 47 State Government agencies, including hospitals, jails and TAFE campuses. In all 46 plans for reducing the environmental impact of state government agencies have been submitted, with 12 improved.

"We want even more buildings achieving the highest 5 star rating like the NSW Crime Commission has in Kent Street and Country Energy has at a number of its locations across NSW," he says.

The NSW Government was the first state government to make it mandatory for agencies to purchase a minimum of six per cent accredited GreenPower for their electricity use to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions, according to Mr Koperberg.

"It is also mandatory for all NSW Government departments to measure and report on the performance of their office buildings using the Australian Building Greenhouse Rating Scheme," he says.