What the RAC is doing

RAC Environmental Commitment Statement

	The RAC accepts our responsibility to help protect the natural environment and mitigate the impacts of climate change.
	The RAC and our people will strive for continuous improvement to make our own operations more sustainable and to reduce our impact on the environment.
	The RAC will influence, educate and inform our members on ways they can contribute to a more sustainable future whilst ensuring our members have access to a range of sustainable mobility options.
	The RAC will work with governments, industry and other stakeholders to deliver better outcomes for members, the community and the environment.

Advocacy for environmental sustainability

RAC members have indicated they are concerned about the impact their vehicle is having on the environment.

The need to embrace and look to new technologies to help reduce Western Australia’s greenhouse gas emissions is essential.
Part of the solution is to support the purchase and use of low emission vehicles along with public transport, walking and cycling.

The RAC also promotes the benefits of eco-driving to reduce vehicle running costs and reduce emissions.

The RAC supports:

• The introduction of stamp duty concessions for low emissions vehicles.
• Other incentives (such as charger installation rebates or priority parking) for electric vehicles.
• Expanding the rollout of programs such as eco-driving and fleet management to small businesses.
• An examination of the impacts of electric vehicles on the electricity grid.
• A more detailed transport energy plan for alternative fuels.
• Ways to encourage WA businesses to adopt low emission vehicles.

Western Australia’s electric vehicle trial

The RAC is participating in Western Australia’s first electric vehicle trial.

The trial involves 10 electric vehicles being used in government and private fleets over a two year period.

During this time, data from the vehicles will be collected and analysed to evaluate what needs to be done to prepare Western Australia for the future use of electric vehicles as well as the opportunities it presents for the motoring industry.

Read more about electric vehicles in the real world

RAC Vehicle Fleet Emissions Offsets

Since 2002 the RAC has offset the emissions produced by its motor vehicle fleet.

This has been done through carbon offset providers in a variety of ways within Australia including tree planting and other initiatives such as fuel switching, capturing landfill gas, renewable energy and cleaner technology.

RAC Perth Office at 832 Wellington Street

The RAC Perth Office building is based on environmentally sustainable design principles and in 2012, the West Perth offices achieved a 4.5-star National Australian Built Environment Rating System (NABERS) base-building rating which exceeded the original rating the building was designed to achieve. A 4.5-star NABERS rating was also achieved for the whole-building.

The building was also awarded the Property Council of Australia’s Rider Levett Bucknall Award in 2009 for Office Developments in Western Australia.

View the RAC’s NABERS base-building certificate. (PDF)

View the RAC’s NABERS whole-building certificate. (PDF)

Reducing Emissions

The RAC is reinvigorating its programs to improve our environmental sustainability performance. In November 2011, the RAC became a signatory to the CitySwitch Green Office program. This program monitors and rates energy consumption and is one step in the RAC’s ongoing commitment to reducing the environmental impact of our operations.

Through the national CitySwitch program, the RAC will aim to achieve greater energy efficiencies within its West Perth building, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and make a positive impact on climate change. All other RAC locations will also benefit from what is learned through the program.

The CitySwitch program operates nationally as a partnership between businesses and local government and is coordinated by the City of Perth for the CBD area. More information on CitySwitch can be found at http://www.perth.wa.gov.au/web/Business/Business-Information/CitySwitch-Green-Office/ .

The RAC has also endorsed the Australian Automobile Association’s Climate Change Statement ‘On the Road to Greener Motoring’ which aims to contribute to a cleaner, greener community and influence industry and government to take steps to reduce emissions and improve energy efficiency.

Read the On the Road to Greener Motoring statement. (PDF)

Earth Hour

The RAC has participated in Earth Hour since 2008 and in 2012, in support of the global community and a commitment to creating a more sustainable future, the RAC turned off all non-essential interior and exterior lighting at the West Perth office.

As a signatory to the CitySwitch Green Office program, the RAC is aiming to achieve greater energy efficiency within the West Perth building. The RAC is proud to support Earth Hour.

For more information on Earth Hour, please visit the official Earth Hour website.

Member of the WA Sustainable Energy Association

The RAC is a member of the Sustainable Energy Association (SEA) the peak body for sustainable energy in Australia.

The aim of the association is to give voice to those with an interest in sustainable energy and to promote the development and adoption of sustainable energy technologies and practices.



For further information at http://www.seaaus.com.au.

RAC Batteries Recycling Program

RAC actively recycles old batteries to ensure the materials are recycled wherever possible or disposed of in the most environmentally friendly way.