It is also noteworthy to realise that while cutting energy consumption is important, getting the right tariff for your business’ energy is also key. Why cut down your energy usage only to pay over the odds for what you are using afterwards? Switching gas and electricity suppliers can make a huge diff erence so it is important to shop around and switch if necessary.
Behaviour Technology is the obvious solution to lowering energy usage, installing energy effi cient lighting, refrigerators, air conditioning and heating systems can help reduce consumption as older models tend to be less effi cient. However with budgets tight few retailers have the capital to invest in such projects. In these circumstances Jonathan Akers, head of consultancy for British Independent Utilities (BIU), says retailers can still fi nd savings through behavioural change programmes. He says there has been a big push on this front over the last two years as retailers have less capital expenditure or shorter payback times for projects such as these. Akers adds: “If a retailer is looking for the biggest saving with the least amount of capital costs then the behavioural change aspect is the best thing to do. It creates a level playing fi eld for when you start using other technologies such as lighting, building controls and voltage optimisation.”
BIU has undertaken work with a number of retailers, including Pets
at Home, Carpet Right and Poundland. Its work with low-cost retailer Poundland has helped to save nearly £300,000 on its £6.5 million annual electricity bill in the fi rst year of the BIU’s behavioural change programme, known as Energy Alarms. In addition to these savings, Poundland saved an additional £250,000 a year due to refunds and effi ciencies saved by BIU going through its bills for the last six years. One method which Akers says could help reduce energy outgoings is the controversial open door policy, which according to the Carbon Trust, costs the retail sector up to £1 billion. Akers explains: “Some operate an open door policy and some don’t. In winter an open door policy exposes you to increased costs on heating and you are eff ectively heating the outside as well as the inside. Looking at ways you can make the shop clearly open with a shut door is quite important and one thing we say if there are no lights on when the store is shut then the lights being on indicate that it is open.” While Akers is a clear advocate of behavioural change, he
acknowledges that technology has a part to play and encourages retailers to install smart meters, if nothing else, which should cost £50- £150 per store per year. He explains: “Most retailers are already rolling out or trying to roll out energy reducing and energy effi cient initiatives. The problem that most of them face is quantifying how much they have actually saved and this is where smart metering comes in. “The thing to bear in mind even if you are installing complex controls or other pieces of technology, whether you are doing a lighting retrofi t or voltage optimisation, which we have seen successfully, you need the smart meter because it is very diffi cult to prove a saving off an estimated bill.” The smart metering, which is installed in more than 400 of Poundland’s 450 stores nationwide, allows BIU to monitor energy consumption on a half hourly basis meaning spikes in energy consumption and unnecessary use can be identifi ed and targeted. BIU contact each site every week to let them know if they have wasted any
energy and when. For example, if energy is unnecessarily high every Thursday evening it may be that a certain staff member is not turning the lights off when they leave, meaning this can easily be tackled on a personal level.
Technology However, not everyone believes that behavioural change programmes are a good idea. Daren Brain, technical director at Four Seasons Group sits fi rmly in the camp of technologically controlled processes. Brain believes that behavioural change only works for a short period of time due to the high turnover of staff in some retail settings. Four Seasons Group (FSG) is currently working with high street
fashion retailer H&M to roll out an energy saving initiative across 180 of its stores. At present, the project is about 80% complete with stores on average becoming at least 20% more energy effi cient. The innovative solution developed by FSG sees it take over control of the retailer’s lighting and heating. The building energy management system (BEMS) is integrated into the store’s systems which allows for FSG to maintain control of these based on opening hours. The system removes the human element and allows for a more regulated approach. When the intruder alarm is set the store lights are turned off as are the window and signage lights. This also allows for partial lighting before and after the store opens. Additionally the air conditioning units are interfaced into the BEMS which optimises the running of the
JUNE 2013 | RETAIL ENVIRONMENT 33
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68