Water

Our approach

In light of the severe water shortages currently experienced in some parts of the world including Australia, ANZ has a duty to use water responsibly. Australia is the driest inhabited continent on earth and home to ANZ’s global headquarters.

ANZ has prioritised water management across the commercial property portfolio in Australia for a number of years; most recently achieving a 21% reduction from 2009 to 2011. For our retail sites, our branch designs include efficient water fixtures, fittings and appliances as part of any new fit-out.

How we are conserving water

Upgrading the water efficiency of our commercial offices

ANZ’s key commercial buildings have been upgraded as part of an environmental investment program.

Infrastructure upgrades in commercial fit-outs have included:

  • introduction of low flow restrictors;
  • installation of dual flush toilets; and
  • the trial of waterless urinals.

An audit of the water using fixtures and fittings across ANZ’s major commercial facilities in 2011 confirmed operation at close to optimal water efficiency. Almost all washroom basins and kitchen sinks have flow restrictors installed and 95% of showers are of the low-flow variety (9L/min or less).  Dual flush toilets make up around 72% of the toilets installed, and will approach close to 100% over the next two years as planned refurbishments are completed and ANZ moves to new offices in Brisbane and Sydney.  In addition, Facilities Managers at ANZ managed sites have devoted significant effort to upgrading water-using plant. As an example, the decommissioning of a water cooling tower at one of our commercial offices in Brisbane achieved water savings of 47% in 2011 compared to 2009.
Our new global headquarters

ANZ Centre, ANZ’s new global headquarters is designed to use 50% less water than the average commercial building. All waste water is recycled for use in landscape irrigation, toilet flushing and cooling towers. Rainwater from the upper roof area of the building is retained and collected in a roof mounted tank for irrigation.

The ANZ Centre also includes a large blackwater treatment plant which can process up to 60kL/day.  Blackwater collected from showers and toilet flushing is treated and recycled for toilet flushing and in 2011 was able to meet around a third of the building’s water requirements.  This represents a significant saving in potable water.  

The ANZ Centre also uses river cooling. Cool water from the Yarra River is piped through the building and the temperature differential is used to cool the water of the air-conditioning system, reducing demand on the cooling towers.

2011 results

Australia

Our two-year target was to reduce total water consumption by 10% per FTE as measured by a sample of 11 commercial buildings in Australia (covering 61% of Australian total FTE). The installation of water efficient fixtures and fittings in our commercial offices helped achieve water reductions of up to 16% in 2011 compared to 2009. Other water savings were achieved by replacing water-using plant and by good water management. Our final result was a reduction in water consumption by 21% per FTE over 2009 levels. This saving is equivalent to 22,800 kilolitres at the sample commercial sites per year. We are now close to optimising potable water use in our buildings.

Water consumption - Australia

New Zealand

An assessment of the environmental impact caused by ANZ’s use of water in New Zealand rated the impact as minor. This was supported by a baseline study in 2011 which showed that the average water use at work per FTE is less than 20% of that used at home. As a result, ANZ New Zealand decided to focus on other more significant areas of environmental impact such as transport and energy, while maintaining high levels of water efficiency in our buildings.

2010 results

Australia

Our two-year target is to reduce our total water consumed by 10% per FTE over the two years to September 30 2011, as measured at a sample of 11 commercial buildings in Australia (covering 62% of Australian total FTE). Our interim result is a reduction in water consumption by 11% per FTE on 2009 levels. This saving is equivalent to 17,497 kilolitres at the sample commercial sites.

Water consumption

The future

Australia:

The black water recycling plant at the ANZ Centre is now fully commissioned. The plant at ANZ Centre has been designed to reduce overall water consumption. As this is at our largest site globally we would expect this to contribute significantly to achieving out target. It is currently forecast that more than half of the total water needs of the building will be met by the recycled water.

New Zealand:

Our target to establish a baseline for our water use is on track to be achieved.  We have commenced the collection of data from six commercial and six retail sites which represent 30% of the total FTE for New Zealand. The preliminary findings are an average usage of 50 litres per employee per day.

The next step is to complete the baseline by September 2011 and set a target for performance improvement in the next reporting period.

2009 results

Our target was to reduce our total water consumed by 5% per FTE over the two years to September 30, 2009, as measured at 12 key Australian sites. Our final result was a reduction in water consumption by 16% per FTE over two years, therefore exceeding our target. This saving is equivalent to 15,540 kiloliters at the sample sites. During 2009 we reduced our water consumption by 6% per FTE or 8,147 kilolitres at the sample sites.

Water consumption - Australia

The future

ANZ is committed to reducing water consumption at Australian sites by 10% per FTE over the coming two-year period, and to establish a baseline for water usage in New Zealand.

Key initiatives

Australia

Key water initiatives at our global headquarters, ANZ Centre:

  • River cooling - cool water from the Yarra River is piped through the building where the temperature differential is used to cool the water of the air conditioning system, reducing the demand on the cooling towers.
  • Blackwater recycling - all waste water will be recycled for use in landscape irrigation, toilet flushing and cooling towers.
  • Stormwater reuse - rainwater from the upper roof area of the building will be retained and collected in a tank for irrigation of the lower green roof and other landscaped areas, in conjunction with the water from the blackwater recycling plant.
New Zealand

We have identified locations where we can measure our water usage. This is an important first step in water management and we will now start to measure usage at these locations to establish a baseline for water management targets in the future.

2008 results

Our total water consumed, measured at 12 key Australian sites, is down 11% per FTE.

Australia - Water Consumption

This makes ANZ well placed to meets its two year target ending in September 2009. The performance improvements have been primarily as a result of the case studies.

The future

ANZ maintains its current commitment to reduce water consumption at Australian sites by 5% over the current two-year period.

ANZ will be introducing new innovative ways of reducing water consumption at our new 833 Collins Street office at the Docklands.