Townsville City Council – QLD, Australia
kWh/year - Electricity Savings
kWh/year - Excess Electricity Savings
tonnes CO2/year - Greenhouse Gas Reduction
Annual Cost Savings
// case study
In this case study
// Challenge
Overview
Townsville City Council (TCC), a leader in sustainability initiatives, partnered with Conservia to drive measurable improvements in energy efficiency across two major sites: the Administration Centre (5,153 m2) and the Civic Theatre (6,375 m2).
// Solutions
Conservia’s Scope and Responsibility
Conservia took full end-to-end responsibility for the Energy Performance Contract (EPC), covering assessment, implementation, and continuous optimisation of energy-saving initiatives. All outcomes were contractually guaranteed, ensuring Townsville City Council had financial certainty and zero risk exposure.
// Challenge
Energy & Water Conservation Initiatives Implemented
A comprehensive suite of efficiency upgrades was delivered, including:
- Lighting Retrofit: 1,533 fittings upgraded
- Advanced Electrical Metering and Sub-Metering
- Air Handling Unit Optimisation: Variable speed drives, CO2-based control, and demand-driven operation
- Chiller Operation Optimisation: Including chilled water temperature set point reset
- Space Temperature Reset in meeting rooms
- Time-of-Day Controls for hot water systems
- After-Hours Energy Management: Push-button timers and access controls
- Holiday Scheduling
- Pump Optimisation: Including pond pump fine-tuning
- Solar Window Film Installation
- Deployment of an Energy Management System for ongoing monitoring and tuning
// Solutions
Energy Savings Results (2013–2017)
- Electricity Savings: 1,094,200 kWh/year
- Excess Electricity Savings: 91,500 kWh/year
- Greenhouse Gas Reduction: 1,100 tonnes CO2/year
- Excess GHG Savings: 85 tonnes CO2/year
- Annual Cost Savings: $212,000
- Excess Cost Savings: $22,000/year (beyond guarantee)
// Challenge
Financial Model
- Project financed entirely from savings
- Zero upfront capital expenditure
- Conservia exceeded performance guarantees
- Funds provided by the client
- Financial guarantees backing the savings
- Conservia exceeds savings targets
// Services
Impact
Townsville City Council achieved substantial greenhouse gas reductions and enhanced energy efficiency across these facilities. The project set a benchmark for energy performance upgrades and TCC has since engage Conservia to develop energy performance upgrade projects for a series of administration, stadiums and community facilities.
