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The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) has this week been recognised for its sustainability achievements at the National Energy Efficiency Awards, being presented with the award for Best Commercial Energy Efficiency Project.

The award recognises the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC), stadium manager at the MCG, partnership with Siemens to deliver a raft of improvements to the stadium's energy use after identifying energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions as a primary focus.

The MCC and Siemens undertook an extensive upgrade of existing practices, as well as the installation of numerous new efficiency systems at the stadium.

 Activities included replacing half the existing MCG lights with LED technologies, implementing a 'smart' air-conditioning system that adjusts output based on the number of people in a room, and installing an innovative building management system which allows the MCC to automate room bookings and functions- a first for a sports stadium in Australia.

 The project results have exceeded expectations, and include:

• Saving10 million kWh- an energy saving which is the equivalent of powering 1872 houses for a year
• Reducing energy consumption at the MCG by 23.9%
• Cutting Co2 equivalent carbon emissions at the stadium by 20,982 tonnes

 The works were fully funded by the MCC at a total investment of more than $8 million, with the expected savings from the reduced energy consumption forecast to offset this cost by 2020.

MCC General Manager - Facilities Peter Wearne explained “we are very pleased to receive this recognition from the Energy Efficiency Council.

"It is a fantastic endorsement by the industry that the upgrades undertaken by the MCC and Siemens throughout the stadium are at the forefront of best practice.

"Our work with Siemens has significantly improved not only the efficiency of the MCG but also our environmental performance. The MCC has a strong belief in the importance of operating the MCG in an environmentally responsible manner.

"Beyond this accolade we are proud of the continued improvement of our sustainability efforts at the stadium.”

The MCC remains at the forefront of water conservation, with the innovative underground water recycling facility housed outside the ground providing secure, long-term sustainable water supply to the heritage-listed Yarra Park and MCG.

The MCC has also made considerable improvement in recycling activities at the stadium, with the venue now recycling around 85% of waste produced during events - compared to just 10-15% a decade ago.

23rd November 2017 - ROYAL AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF VICTORIA REWARDED FOR SUSTAINABILITY 

13th November 2017 - SPORT SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES TO BE DISCUSSED AT MELBOURNE SEA SUMMIT

13th September 2017 - MCG LAUNCHES ENERGY SHARING INITIATIVE 

13th July 2017 - PLAN REVEALED TO CONVERT ROAD LANE TO PARK ON MELBOURNE’S SOUTHBANK

31st May 2017 - $1.2 MILLION CITY OF MELBOURNE BACKING FOR URBAN FOREST FUND 

10th November 2016 - MCG ENVIRONMENTAL EFFORTS RECOGNISED AT SPORT SUSTAINABILITY AWARDS 

21st November 2014 - SIEMENS HELPS MCG TAKE A LEAD IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY

28th March 2014 - GRIFFITH UNIVERSITY TOURISM RESEARCH INSTITUTE LAUNCHED

7th September 2015 - SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE AWARDED FOR SUSTAINABILITY LEADERSHIP 

21st November 2014 - SIEMENS HELPS MCG TAKE A LEAD IN ENERGY EFFICIENCY

17th October 2014 - MCG WATER RECYCLING FACILITY SAVES ALMOST 240 MILLION LITRES 

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