About Environment and Resource Efficiency Plans
About EREP
The Victorian Government has initiated a new, innovative regulatory program to help businesses to reduce water, energy and waste generation. This program is designed to support business efforts to improve the way resources are used and, importantly, save businesses money.
From 1 January 2008 all commercial and industrial sites in Victoria that use more than 100 TJ of energy and/or 120 ML of water in a financial year need to prepare a plan that identifies actions to reduce energy and water use and waste generation.
Businesses that tripped the thresholds in the 06/07 finanical year were required to register with EPA by 31 March 2008, and must prepare a plan by December 2008, then implement actions with a three year or better payback period.
More than 250 sites across Victoria have answered the call to reduce energy, water and waste generation by developing plans to cut resource use.
The public register
of sites participating in the EREP program is now available.
The participating sites represent approximately 700 petajoules of energy consumption, equivalent to around 45% of Victoria’s annual energy use, and approximately 300 gigalitres of water consumption which compares with the annual water consumption of around 1.5 million average Victorian households.
EREP is expected to deliver $85 million in net savings for participants over the next 10 years.
The EREP program has a diverse group of industry sectors
represented, including manufacturing, shopping centres and sporting facilities, although the majority of sites belong to the manufacturing sector
.
EREP resources
EPA is publishing several resources, including guidelines and a tool kit to assist businesses to prepare their EREP.
EREP information workshops
The EREP team held workshops on how to develop an EREP in May and June in both metropolitan and regional Victoria. The workshops built on the information available in the Environment and Resource Efficiency Plans Toolkit and helped participants enhance their skills in identifying resource efficiency opportunities.
View the workshop presentations
Online self assessment and registration system for EREP
Registration has now closed for the first round of the EREP program. Businesses, however can still use the on-line system to assess their energy and water use for a financial year and determine the carbon fo otprint associated with their energy consumption.
Registration for the EREP program is based on resource use in a financial year. Businesses that were under the energy and water use thresholds in 2006/07 may need to reassess their resource usage in subsequent years and, if they use more than 120ML of water or 100TJ of energy, register in the program.
Exempting temporary construction activities from the EREP program
Temporary construction activities, that meet the conditions of EPA's Notice of Exemption, are exempt from complying with the EREP Regulations.
EREP Timelines
Businesses that tripped the resource use thresholds in the 2006/07 financial year were required to register for the EREP program by 31 March 2008. Businesses need to submit their EREPs by 31 December 2008.
EREP frequently asked questions
List of frequently asked questions about the EREP program.
Public consultation on draft EREP Regulations
The EREP Regulations were officially made in December 2007. Prior to finalising the Regulations, EPA released, draft EREP Regulations, a RIS (Regulatory Impact Statement) and draft Guidelines for consultation.
EREP key documents
EREP Fact sheets
- EREP and waterMAP fact sheet
- EREP and Energy Efficiency Opportunities (EEO) fact sheet
- EREP and the Industry Greenhouse Program (IGP) fact sheet
- HazWaste Fund and Environment and Resource Efficiency Plans (EREP)
EREP Tool kit
- Module 1: Overview of the EREP program
- Module 2: A management systems approach to resource efficiency
- Module 3: An integrated resource efficiency site assessment procedure
- Module 4: Calculating payback periods
- EPA has designed a folder cover and dividers for the EREP Toolkit for those who wish to print out and keep the modules all together.
Download the Module Cover.
Download the Module Tabs.