Every year, it feels like the Christmas retail period gets earlier, with twinkling lights and reindeer installations appearing as early as November, barely after the jack-o-lanterns and cobwebs of Halloween have been swept away.
The mega sales of Black Friday and Cyber Monday towards the end of November then catapult consumers into a buy-a-thon that starts with bagging bargains, and ends with stuffing stockings and last-minute gifts, spilling over into Boxing Day sales – just in case we hadn’t had enough!
Amidst the retail frenzy, it's easy to overlook an area of consumption that also runs hot over the biggest retail period of the year, and that’s energy consumption. With extended opening hours, festive lighting, and increased use of heating or cooling systems, energy bills can skyrocket.
A present for the planet
Although energy cost saving is a significant benefit for businesses during a high-expenditure period like Christmas, it’s not the only appeal of energy efficiency. Conserving energy also contributes to sustainability by reducing carbon emissions – which means eco-conscious businesses can ensure their Christmas goodwill extends to the environment.
Taking an energy-efficient stance also goes down favourably with consumers and has been shown to increase loyalty and purchase behaviour. Greener, a sustainability specialist and measurement platform for businesses, notes that that 3 out of 5 Australian consumers consider brand authenticity and brand values as important to their purchase, including their environmental and eco credentials. Further, 92% of millennials and 81% of baby boomers consider environmental impacts in their purchase, with 65% of consumers overall having shifted spending to brands that were going greener.1
Christmas energy-saving strategies for retail stores
1. Deck the halls with energy efficient lighting
LED lights use up to 75% less energy than traditional incandescent lights, can be left on longer without overheating, and don’t require replacing as frequently. Most businesses are on board these days, with 65% preferring LED lighting for their Christmas displays. If you’re lucky enough to have a retail space with plenty of natural light, design your store to make sunlight your stylist, maximising it in areas where additional lighting is in abundance. For example, dressing rooms may need more artificial lighting, whereas store entries and display windows may need less.
2. Sleigh heating and cooling costs
The comfort of your customers is paramount, but that doesn't mean your air conditioning needs to be running all hours. Seize the reins of your heating and cooling costs with a smart thermostat that can optimise temperature settings based on store hours and occupancy levels, preventing energy wastage. Putting air conditioning on auto-pilot also means you can spend less time worrying about adjusting the AC, and more time focused on your customers and maximising the sales lift of the busiest time of the year.
3. Energy-efficient equipment all the way
If you're using outdated equipment in any part of your business, it might be consuming more energy than necessary even during normal periods, which will hit your bottom line even harder during a period when you may be open for additional hours. Consider upgrading to equipment with a higher-star energy rating. While there's an upfront cost, the long-term savings can be significant.
4. Make sure Santa’s helpers are energy-aware
At Christmas, retail staff are likely to be even busier than usual serving customers, so it could be that they’re distracted from the simple gestures that can make a huge impact on energy efficiency in the workplace. It’s a good time to remind everyone – including new and temporary staff that have been rostered on for the busy period – that it’s more important than ever to be energy conscious. Encourage practices like turning off lights in unused spaces, unplugging devices that aren't in use, and keeping doors closed to preserve indoor temperatures.
How Zembl can help businesses save energy
With over 13 years of experience in energy comparison services for businesses, Zembl saves thousands of businesses money on their energy bills every day. In an obligation-free energy review, our experts will find competitive rates based on your current usage. If we can find you a better deal, we’ll do the paperwork and legwork to get you switched and saving fast.
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