Celebrating Our Energy Efficiency Achievements
This article will take approximately 2 minutes to read
Published 3 Apr 2024 in Colleagues
It’s time to celebrate our remarkable achievements in driving energy savings and efficiency across our business. Hear more from Julie Sheldon, Head of Energy Efficiency who showcases how all colleagues have collectively made a difference to our Sustainable impact.
Driving Energy Efficiency and Savings
One of our primary focuses has been on reducing our direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through energy efficiencies. We set ourselves an ambitious target to reduce our direct GHG emissions by 50% by January 2027 compared to 2019 levels. And I’m thrilled to announce that we’re well on our way to achieving this goal.
In the past year (2023/24), we’ve managed to reduce energy usage across our sites by an impressive 11% compared to the previous year. This equates to saving a whopping 5.2 million kWh's of electricity, which translates to approximately £1.65 million in electricity costs saved. But it doesn’t stop there. We’ve also prevented over 1,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions, further solidifying our commitment to environmental stewardship.
Our efforts haven’t gone unnoticed either. We were honoured to be recognised as winners at the EDIE Sustainability Leaders Award 2023 for Energy Project of the Year, and we were thrilled to have been shortlisted once again for 2024. Even though we didn’t win this year, these accolades are a testament to the dedication and hard work of everyone involved in our energy efficiency initiatives. So well done!
Investments in Sustainability
Behind these achievements lies significant capital investment. Over the past two years, we’ve invested a substantial £8.6 million in energy efficiency projects. From replacing refrigeration units in 50 stores to implementing LED lighting in 139 stores, we’ve been proactive in adopting innovative solutions to reduce our energy consumption.
Looking ahead, we’re not resting on our laurels. We have exciting plans for further investment in 2024/25, with over £800k earmarked for energy efficiency property projects. This will involve upgrading refrigeration and LED lighting at selected food stores and implementing automation controls for our refrigeration and heating/cooling systems. Additionally, we’re thrilled to announce a new partnership with Big Solar Co-op to roll out solar panels across a selection of our sites, further enhancing our commitment to renewable energy.
Collaborating for change as Thought leading pioneers…
We firmly believe in the power of collaboration, which is why we’re actively working with other Co-ops to share best practices and reduce our collective GHG emissions. Our recent participation in the climate change panel at the Co-op UK Consumer Retail Conference exemplifies our commitment to driving positive change within the Co-op Movement. By joining forces with fellow co-op’s, we can amplify our impact and pave the way for a more sustainable future.
Charting Our Sustainable Impact
Take a look at the diagram below to see how our energy efficiency initiatives fit into our broader sustainable impact activity. From reducing GHG emissions to supporting renewables, every step we take brings us closer to our overarching goal of environmental stewardship and corporate responsibility.
As we reflect on our achievements and look forward to the year ahead, let’s continue the great work. As outlined through our purpose, the power of co-operation is helping to build a fairer, more sustainable and ethical future for generations to come.
Keep up the fantastic work across your sites!