WoolWorths holdings limited 2013 good BUsiness JoUrneY report

climate change and energy
GREEN BUILDING INNOVATION
We have developed our own rating model for stores based
on the number of sustainability features they include. This allows
new and existing stores to be classified as silver, gold or platinum
level stores, with platinum level being the highest category
for stores with the most sustainability features. All professional
teams involved in our building developments are required
to use these guidelines in building design and development.
This model has been revised during the last financial year
to reflect developments in the sector, and our own learnings.
Woolworths considers the following measures when considering
new real estate opportunities and the majority of these have
been incorporated into our green buildings store design:
• Natural ventilation including openable windows to offices
and cross-ventilation;
• Roof Mounted opaque skylights;
• Energy-efficient lighting and the use of a building management
system for light switching;
• Solar-powered water heating;
• Re-use heat generated by plant and machinery to heat
buildings in cold periods of the year;
• LED lighting for exterior signs;
• CO 2
refrigeration system;
• Underfloor heating in the food market using waste heat
and heat pumps and heat reclaim system for food market
and cooling;
• Natural lighting (skylights);
• Reduction in spotlighting and fluorescent lighting as a result
of daylight usage;
• Automated Load Control;
• Heat Pump geyser for interactive use;
• Power Factor Correction;
• Grey water recycling system;
• Dual flush toilets;
• Timer Taps on basins;
• Electronic pulse meters installed on all water meters;
• Metering on Line monitoring system;
• Real time energy display;
• Recycling facilities for customers;
• Cardboard shelving and bulkheads; and
• Training of staff on energy management.
CASE STUDY: Refrigeration
trial at Palmyra
A closed refrigeration trial has been conducted at one
of our Platinum status Green stores, Palmyra Junction,
to determine customer reactions. The objective of the
trial was to see how much electricity could be saved
by closing our store refrigeration with doors and also
to determine how closed refrigeration impacts the
shopping experience. In the first three months of the
trial, energy usage in the store decreased by 27%.
Customer research revealed that closed refrigeration
could become a hindrance to some shoppers and
therefore, we are exploring ways to ensure that this
initiative is also customer friendly before rolling it out
to other stores.
2013 GOOD BUSINESS JOURNEY / WHL 87