Government ministries have been able to significantly cut down on overhead expenditures by adhering to the guidelines of an environmental efficiency project, Ynet learned Wednesday. The Green Government project, which was formulated by the Environmental Protection Ministry and launched in 2009, defines various environmental efficiency goals for the government, including decreasing the consumption of various resources and switching to biodegradable resources when possible. Related stories: Knesset mulls new paper recycling venture ILA to form environmental fund Report: Environmental threats on the rise A recent meeting of the committee tasked with monitoring the ministries' progress found that their efforts have resulted in a considerable decrease in power, water and paper consumption, saving them millions of shekels. The Housing Ministry has been able to save NIS 500,000 (roughly $133,500) by reducing its power and water consumption and reported a 55% decrease in paper consumption. The Internal Security Ministry has been able to cut its water consumption by 23% and use 27% less power while the Transportation Ministry was able to save NIS 240,000 ($64,000) on its power expenditures and increase its use of recycled paper to 50%. Alona Shefer-Karo, director-general of the Environmental Protection Ministry, said that while the ministries "still have a long way to go, the data proves that improving environmental efficiency leads to significant financial savings. "The government should serve as a role model for the public when it comes to sustainable consumption and the responsible use of resource," she said. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter