Ackermans receives recognition for SWATT project

© Slavomir Valigursky – za.fotolia.com

Ackermans was awarded the African Utility Award for the energy and water efficiency project of the year for Save Watts (SWATT) - an extensive energy saving initiative conceptualised by the retailer, and developed and implemented by UGU Engineering Solutions. The main objective of the project was to reduce the energy footprint of the business and achieve the highest possible return on investment through reducing electricity costs.

SWATT is comprised of three main components - technology, control mechanisms, and behaviour relating to energy use - and each component has specific implementation plans to reach the results needed to sustain the project's long-term objectives.

Esteemed initiative

Sean Cardinaal, Ackermans MD, said that SWATT is one of the retailer's most esteemed initiatives, and an example of the sustainability that comes with merging innovation and behaviour change.

"We are proud of the awards that we have won for this project and are truly honoured to be considered a shining example for how companies can implement energy efficiency. We are thrilled at the support that our staff have shown to this project."

Cardinaal adds that project SWATT's implementation included design optimisation, accurate measurement of energy use, and an internal communications campaign.

"The internal communications campaign was led by Ackermans' management team to inform, teach, incentivise and reward employee participation in the initiative. It was also promoted on Ackermans-owned media including our radio, magazine and digital platforms. We also highlighted the cost of uneconomical habits when it comes to energy usage and the long-term impacts on our performance as a company and a responsible corporate citizen on the continent," Cardinaal said.

Saving on electricity

Jonathan Pratt, GM for operations support at Ackermans, said the retailer cut down its electricity bill for lighting by 50% - an equivalent of approximately R17m a year. The combined saving of electricity in Ackermans' South African, Namibian and Botswana stores has resulted in a saving of 14GWh/year - enough to power close to 1,200 households for a year.

"We are very proud that we can have a greener footprint and our carbon emissions savings are 14,000t. In addition to these efficient technologies and control mechanisms that were implemented, the behaviour change drive to staff contributed to our savings in electricity costs and energy use," Pratt said.