Sun International to bet on improved energy savings

Sun International's Table Bay Hotel

61% savings

The targeted savings were identified by an energy efficiency audit funded by the National Business Initiative’s Private Sector Energy Efficiency (PSEE) programme - a bilateral initiative between South Africa and the UK - which aims to improve energy efficiency in commercial and industrial companies in South Africa by identifying and implementing energy saving measures.

The audit identified energy savings of as much as 61% of current energy costs at four of Sun International’s premier properties: The Golden Valley Casino, The Table Bay Hotel; The Carousel; and The Windmill Casino and Entertainment Centre.

“Boosting energy efficiency offers not just an opportunity for Sun International to lower its energy costs but is also a chance for the company to do its bit to alleviate pressure on South Africa’s power grid,” says Michael Farr, group GM brand and communications of Sun International. “All companies in South Africa need to do their bit to improve their energy efficiency efforts as part of the nationwide campaign to reduce waste and maximise the amount of power available to the wider economy.”

Rising electricity costs

Regulated energy price increases in South Africa are expected to increase electricity costs for South African businesses by 47% over the five-year period running from 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2018.

The PSEE audit showed that Carousel Casino and Entertainment World in the North-West Province could slash energy costs by a massive 61% resulting in an annual saving of more than R7,5m, simply by adopting new energy conservation measures. The resort’s total energy spend in 2013 was R14,57m, of which 97% or R13,9m was for electricity.

Similarly, The Golden Valley in the Western Cape town of Worcester could slash its R3,78m energy bill by as much as 40%, while The Windmill Casino and Entertainment Centre just outside Bloemfontein has the capacity to reduce its energy bill by 29% for a saving of more than R1,2m annually.

It comes down to education

While casinos typically have higher electricity costs due to the wide range of gaming equipment that they utilise, Sun International is also honing in on the energy use of its hotel facilities.

The Table Bay Hotel, built in 1997 on the popular Victoria and Alfred Waterfront close to the Cape Town’s city centre, could cut its R7m annual energy bill by 19%, according to the PSEE.

The hotel employs 490 staff and the average monthly energy consumption is 673,000kWh, at a cost of R522,000 depending on occupancy levels. By investing R887,000 in energy efficiency initiatives, the hotel could cut more than 860,000kWh from its annual consumption and save more than R1,3m in energy costs. The investment could be paid back in just over eight months, according to the PSEE.

“Energy efficiency clearly has tangible benefits for us as a company and we are looking at ways to replicate these energy savings measures at all of our operations,” says Farr. “A lot of it comes down to education of both staff and guests. Something as simple as encouraging guests to wash towels only when necessary can result in massive savings in the form of both water and electricity.”