At Queensgate Shopping Centre, 83% of retailers have committed to the Growing Greener pledge, an initiative led by the centre team to reduce energy use, waste and water consumption and so cut costs. Retailer audits identified savings opportunities and an awards scheme recognised top performers. Through Growing Greener, Queensgate has improved sustainability performance and JLL now plans to roll out the initiative across its UK portfolio of shopping centres.
45% ENERGY REDUCTIONS AND £125,000 ENERGY COST SAVINGS DELIVERED OVER FIVE YEARS
FURTHER OPPORTUNITIES IDENTIFIED FOR RETAILERS TO SAVE 4.3 MILLION KWH, 3 MILLION LITRES OF WATER, 2,900 TONNES OF CO2 AND £477,000
2016 SCEPTRE ENERGY MANAGEMENT AWARD
Queensgate Shopping Centre in Peterborough is home to over 90 stores and 15 places to eat. The 78,000m2 scheme attracts 15 million visitors a year. It is owned by Invesco and managed by JLL, which is increasing value for clients, investors and other stakeholders through its global sustainability strategy, Building a Better Tomorrow.
Queensgate has a strong track record on sustainability, winning several awards. The centre has held ISO 14001 accreditation for environmental management since 2011 and became the UK’s first shopping centre to achieve the new ISO 14001:2015 standard in early 2016.
Led by Queensgate’s Environmental Manager, Growing Greener launched in November 2013. Objectives include:
JLL is exploring opportunities to introduce Growing Greener across other areas of the portfolio as part of its Building a Better Tomorrow.
Through Growing Greener, an Environmental Assistant analysed energy use, waste management and water consumption across 65 retailers, flagging opportunities for improvement. These included optimising heating and cooling settings, ensuring lighting is off out-of-hours by fitting ‘last person out’ switches in store fit out, providing clear bags to support better segregation of cardboard, plastic, glass and food waste, installing energy efficient LED lighting and fitting water saving devices in toilet cisterns.
The top ten retailers, small and large, were recognised for their energy efficiency, recycling, water efficiency, engagement and overall improved performance at the first Growing Greener Awards. Held at the London Transport Museum in April 2015, the ceremony was hosted by Liz Parkes, Deputy Director of Climate Change at the Environment Agency. The winners were awarded Green Apples in association with the Green Organisation and floor vinyls were put in front of stores, so customers could see their success.
Supporting initiatives include:
Plans for 2017 include:
£4,000 invested to fund the Environmental Advisor for six months.
Queensgate performance in areas managed by JLL:
Opportunities identified in retailer areas:
Additional benefits include
RETAILERS
How to support retailers with sustainability?
Queensgate kick-started Growing Greener by hiring an Environmental Assistant as part of a six-month graduate placement, in partnership with Peterborough DNA and Change Agents UK. This was a cost-effective solution that offered the graduate the chance to gain valuable experience, while providing the centre team and retailers with support. The Environmental Assistant arranged one-hour meetings with store managers, running through a series of questions, visiting the stores and collecting energy, water and waste data, reading meters where needed. The centre team then evaluated the information and developed personalised reports for each retailer, providing scores and recommendations on how to achieve savings. Top performers were recognised at the Growing Greener Awards. Follow up visits in 2017 will monitor progress, review savings and identify further opportunities. The Queensgate team also provides ongoing support for retailers, such as travel plan sessions for staff.
CUSTOMERS
How to engage customers in sustainability?
Information about Growing Greener is displayed around the centre, from small stickers on the windows of participating retailers, to large banners showcasing the centre’s sustainability performance and retailer initiatives. In March 2016, Queensgate also hosted On the Move with Growing Greener, a free event encouraging customers to make greener and healthier travel choices, and celebrating achievements at Queensgate. Participating retailers included Boost, Richardson Cycles, Tiger and Trespass. Free activities included pedal-powered smoothie-making, Zumba and interactive games with Peterborough Travelchoice, which encourages sustainable travel.
James Pearson
Sustainability Analyst P&AM
JLL
Carol Wakelin
Environmental Manager
Queensgate Shopping Centre