Arndale delivering on energy efficiency
MANCHESTER Arndale is on course to hit a million customers a week as it celebrates the attainment of two key awards for its sustainability and energy management credentials.
Its team has won a Sceptre Award for Energy Management in June followed by a Green Apple for Sustainability in September as well as being a finalist for the British Council of Shopping Centres (BCSC) Gold Awards under the sustainability category.
The award wins follow a successful year of energy savings and sustainable initiatives following the introduction of the centre’s latest energy management plan.
Work has included the installation of 130 energy monitoring systems, low energy lighting applications, adjustable building management systems on the malls.
As part of its Green Apple award win, Manchester Arndale will become a Green World Ambassador and will have these initiatives published in The Green Organisation’s Green Book.
A partnership with energy management company EP&T Global has bolstered key advances in the centre’s sustainability performance and has allowed vigilant monitoring of all energy expenditure.
The centre’s strategic vision to save £1m in energy over five years is currently on target, having already saved £247,000.
Centre director David Allinson told TheBusinessDesk an integral part of the successful approach was to change the behaviour of its staff.
“We are asking people to come to work and think about reducing our carbon footprint,” he said. “Where are now has been two years in the making.
“We have created our own sustainability training programme on the site and we are very pleased with how successful it is proving to be.”
Allinson also said customer awareness had also contributed to the success of Manchester Arndale’s energy management plan.
A partnership with low carbon advocates, Cooler Projects, to deliver carbon literacy training for staff and an annual Carbon Active customer event, has served to progress Manchester’s Carbon Literacy project.
Allinson said: “Manchester Arndale approaches sustainability holistically, tackling energy, water, carbon and waste not only through operations but also employee engagement and customer awareness. We know that it takes all these elements to be working well together to produce excellent energy management results and we are thrilled to have been recognised for this work.”
There are currently 240 businesses occupying the 1.4 million square feet of Manchester Arndale with the complex almost fully let.
“Footfall is strong and we are really positive,” added Allinson. “I am confident will soon be hitting one million customers a week.”
