THE Albany Community Environment Centre’s (ACEC) Greenhouse Challenge is up and running, with the first team of local workmates signed on, and more teams about to join them.

Accepting the challenge of reducing their domestic energy and water consumption is a team of six workmates from the Albany office of the Department of Water.

Teams are also being rallied among other government departments.

“The challenge is a good way to get a heads-up on specific energy consumption issues and solutions in my home,” Rachael Duffield said.

She had a Home Sustainability Assessment recently that marked the start of her participation in the competition.

“I have been procrastinating about having a assessment of my home for some time, so the Challenge gave me the incentive to rally a team of interested colleagues to form a team,” she said.

ACEC spokesperson Peter Morris said the Greenhouse Challenge worked by workplaces providing a team of between two and six.

“These team members each receive a full Home Sustainability Assessment to measure the point from which the competition begins,” he said.

“The team that can make the greatest percentage reduction in their energy and water consumption over a period of six weeks is the winner.”

Registration is until October 16 or until a full complement of 12 teams is reached.

“Once we’ve measured all the teams’ energy and water use reductions, the winning team will be announced at a special awards party,” Mr Morris said.

“The winning team will be the recipient of the Greenhouse Challenge Perpetual Trophy.”