Overview
Waitrose is one of the UK’s leading retail businesses. What sets it apart are its values and culture.
As part of the John Lewis Partnership, Waitrose has set targets for a wide range of environmental measures.
These include reducing packaging and the amount of waste it sends to landfill, reducing water usage and improving transport efficiency. The company has set two overriding environmental goals:
- Deliver a 15% absolute reduction in our operational carbon footprint by 2020/21.
- Deliver excellence in environmental practice across our business.
The Problem
With almost 270 branches, the business is growing at a fast pace and wants to minimise the impact that its shops have on the environment – and their associated energy consumption, carbon emissions and financial costs.
With this in mind, the company has taken a number of steps to curb energy use and carbon emissions on site.
Our Solution
In April 2010, the first tranche of a roll out of Voltage Power Optimisation began, with 26 stores installing the technology.
We have significant experience in working with food retailers and the electrical equipment within supermarkets are well matched to those that see savings from powerPerfector.
Whilst the technology is suitable for almost all types of site, we see the greatest savings on facilities with large lighting and motor loads, including refrigeration and air‐conditioning. Longer operating hours, (i.e. high ‘load factor’) will also maximise the savings made.
The Results
Waitrose is now saving £268,000 every year and nearly 1,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide.
Having recognised the benefits of VPO®, Waitrose has continued with two further phases to the rollout. Once complete, over 100 Waitrose stores, offices and distribution hubs will be powerPerfected.
