Newly-released energy efficiency reports show Coles is cutting supermarket energy use by an average 7% through voltage optimisation, Caltex saved $400,000 a year at almost no cost by switching its Lytton refinery boilers to gas and Arnotts has reduced energy intensity by 6.8% in three years.
A fuel-switching project at Sanitarium's Cooranbong facility and a Qenos cogeneration project highlight the many ways businesses can cut energy costs and emissions, according to AGL's Marc Barrington, who added that a new solar PV leasing deal could have tax advantages for business customers.
The carbon price means sustainability managers now have senior management's attention – but they risk squandering it unless they front up with good data, says David Solsky of CarbonSystems.
If you want to get the largest possible savings on your energy bills, you first need to 'remove the noise created by feral activists, political posturing and delusional salesmen', according to Dr Martin Blake.
Research by NAB and ClimateWorks on retail sector energy efficiency opportunities concludes retailers could add an extra 3% to 14% to EBIT – but they would need to boost capital expenditure by about 25% to do it.
