b'ENVIRONMENT| LEGAL SECTOR| 2022SUSTAINABILITY INSIGHTELECTRICITY EMISSIONSGreenhouse gas from the generation of electricity from fossil fuelsElectricity Emissions per Employeeis still Australias largest source of emissions although this ratio is1.8 1.7showing a long-term decline as the proportion of renewables in the electricity mix grows. For the aggregated period of 1990 to1.6 1.62021, Australias national emissions from electricity accounted for 1.4 1.2thirty-three per cent of the greenhouse gas inventory. 1.2 1.1TonnesCOVID and the increasing price of natural gas have altered the1.0 1.0consumption of electricity by different sectors. Where commercial0.8demand previously exceeded residential demand, this has now0.6switched. In a pre and post-COVID comparison in Melbourne,0.4commercial demand decreased by seven per cent and residential0.2demand increased by fourteen per cent. 0.0While many CBD buildings were effectively vacant for portions2018 2019 2020 2021 2022of the year, base building electricity use was still required, and IT centres were still operational. Residential demand increased, as home occupancy hours increased impacting domestic heating and2022 ELECTRICITY cooling, lighting, cooking and entertainment systems. Home ITTonnes C0 2 -e per employee for all firmsequipment was being used to work remotely.0.97 2022 AusLSA Member Performance AVERAGEOffice electricity emissions were reduced by 14 per cent last year and forty per cent since COVID began. These latest reductions can be attributed to a growing purchase of renewable electricity.The resumption of air travel during 2021-22 has altered law firms greenhouse gas emission profile. While emissions from electricity0.002.47 use still exceed those from travel, electricity emissions are trendingMINIMUM MAXIMUMdown while travel emissions are now beginning to increase.68'