Waste management and reduction guide for retail industry

27Section 5.Improving generalenvironmentalperformanceConserving energy■ Turn off lights out of workinghours■ Turn off lights and airconditionersin areas not used with manualswitches, movement sensors ortiming devices■ Turn off computer equipmentwhen not in use■ Select office equipment, suchas copiers and printers, that useless power when on standby■ Encourage retailers to installenergy-efficient fluorescentglobes which save energy andmoney■ Install time clocks on equipmentthat needs power only at specificperiods of operation■ Encourage the planting of treesas they absorb carbon dioxidefrom the atmosphere■ Explore alternative technologies,such as solar power for hot watergeneration and heating/coolingEnergy savings can be realisedby adopting ‘good housekeeping’energy maintenance techniques.Regular energy audits will helpcentres with energy efficiency,and save energy and money.CASE STUDYAdelaide Central Plaza’s installation of a cogeneration plant enablessubstantially reduced operating costs and minimises greenhouse gasemissions. Green power is also available to tenants at a small extra costper kilowatt hour. The centre’s upgrade of their power metering system nowmonitors areas of high or unnecessary usage to identify potential areas forcost savings.