Much of the routine information that is distributed around Government departments, such as the daily summaries of press and media reports, are now distributed electronically rather than by facsimile. The Government Gazette is now published in electronic format, to reduce the number of printed copies that are required. It is now common practice for the agenda and papers for inter-departmental meetings to be distributed electronically, so that recipients only have to print the key reference material they need to have with them at the meeting. The Government Supplies Department's own electronic tendering system was launched in April 2000, reducing the amount of tender documentation that has to be distributed in paper format. For example, we have been equipping departments with printers that use both sides of paper and, where only one side has been used, it is the normal rule that the other side must be used for subsequent work before the paper is scrapped.
Conservation of energy is an important aspect of reduced consumption.
We purchase products that have low electricity consumption, including refrigerators and fluorescent tubes with energy saving features. For products such as individual room air- conditioners or water pumps where electricity consumption may vary significantly between brands, we take account of the additional electricity costs when calculating the price of each offer. The Government is seeking to make use of more effective air conditioning and lighting systems that target the areas that need cooling and illumination. Moreover, the degree of cooling in government offices was reduced this summer as part of the energy saving measures. A substantial contribution to waste reduction can be made by providing greater attention to packaging.