Retail business resource efficiency

Energy consumption is a major area of cost for all retail businesses. Whether you are using electricity, gas or liquefied petroleum gas, using these energy sources more efficiently can bring cost savings.

How to reduce your energy bills

There are a number of practical steps your business can take to reduce energy costs. These steps include:

• analysing your utility bills to see how much energy your business is actually using
• identifying areas in your store where you could make savings
• installing sub-meters that are read regularly to track energy use
• finding where energy is being wasted within your business
• setting targets for energy use reductions
• considering installing a building energy management system

Energy efficiency measures

Small changes to your retail premises can have a dramatic impact on your energy bills. Some changes you can make include:

• reducing the temperature in your premises - each °C that you reduce it will save up to 8 per cent on your energy bills each year
• setting air conditioning systems to come on only when the temperature reaches 24°C
• checking the timers on your heating so it only comes on when your store is open
• using timer switches and movement detectors to prevent lights and equipment operating out of hours or in areas which are used infrequently, eg stock rooms
• implementing a policy and putting up signs and stickers to encourage all staff to switch off equipment and lights when they are not in use
• replacing old 38-millimetre fluorescent tubes with 26-millimetre tubes of a lower wattage
• turning off refrigerators containing non-perishable goods overnight
• planning preventative maintenance programmes for boilers, lifts, escalators, ovens, refrigerators, freezers and air-conditioning equipment
• insulating hot-water tanks and pipes

For more information, see save money by using energy more efficiently.