In a drive to become the world’s most sustainable major retailer, Marks & Spencer has set the goal of reducing their store, office and warehouse energy usage by 35% per square foot by 2015.
The UK retailer is addressing how its existing stores are lit and has turned to leading building services contractor, Balfour Beatty Engineering Services (BBES). The result is the swapping out of T5 ribbon wall light fittings and the installation of low energy LED lighting in over 170 stores in the UK.
For the first phase of the project, delivered in partnership with lighting manufacturer, Phillips, several dedicated teams from BBES worked in stores across the UK to complete the installations.
“The new LED lighting is expected to make a significant impact in helping to reduce Marks & Spencer’s non-merchandise lighting costs,” commented Steven Palmer, BBES Project Manager. “The specification of Phillips long life, low energy lighting systems represents significant cost savings for each store.”
As the UK’s leading M&E contractor, BBES has a clear focus on delivering schemes that offer low environmental impact. For the second phase of works, sustainable initiatives such as energy monitoring, intelligent lighting controls and waterless urinals will also be integrated into the stores to further reduce energy consumption.
Improvements to metering equipment will strengthen the retail chain’s ability to measure energy usage and ability to analyse stores' consumption trends. This increased visibility will mean the stores can easily identify and quickly respond to where energy usage is high due to faulty equipment.
BBES will also be working with Marks & Spencer on developing systems which allow them to remotely manage in-store lighting, heating and ventilation equipment and food refrigeration systems. An added benefit of this will mean less maintenance related callouts and the associated environmental impact these have.
With the second phase expected to be completed by imminently, this project further demonstrates BBES’s commitment to delivering sustainable projects that play a significant and tangible role in reducing the carbon footprint of businesses.