Energy efficiency in practice in SPAR Austria

At the Climate Change Conference held recently in Paris, international targets for energy-efficiency and greenhouse gas savings were established. SPAR Austria has set much stricter goals to achieve by 2050 and will continue to systematically pursue these goals through an energy management system, implemented according to ISO 50001:2011.

LED lighting, modern cooling and heating systems and photovoltaic systems – SPAR Austria has focused on energy savings for a long time. SPAR Austria successfully achieved certification of an energy management system according to the principles of ISO 50001:2011. The aim of the ISO standard is to help organisations enhance energy efficiency through improving the development of systems and processes. “By using the ISO 50001:2011 system, we expect a broad impact on the measures we have taken. By using improved processes, untapped efficiency potential will be explored, whilst energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions are reduced. In this way, the energy management system will make a significant contribution to the protection of the environment and climate”, says Hans K. Reisch, SPAR Board member for Energy and Technology, upon receiving the certificate.

Goals for 2050

An essential element to achieve certification is the setting of targets based on cost reduction. “We have an energy strategy which has specific targets for various areas such as efficient energy use, buy renewable energy and even generate energy. And we set goals that are more stringent than those negotiated internationally”, continued Mr Reisch. SPAR is committed to reducing energy consumption by 50% by 2050 (using 2005 consumption as the base). Greenhouse gas emissions are targeted to decrease by 90% when compared to 1990. And by 2050, the energy should come from almost 100% ecologically-sound, renewable sources.

Measures to achieve goals

SPAR Austria aims to achieve these ambitious goals through a variety of measures that have already been launched: Since 2014, SPAR Austria has converted 300 stores to LED lighting, with more stores set to follow every year. This already saves 40 million kWh of electricity a year – as much electricity as 16,000 households would consume. New SPAR stores require 50% less energy than traditional stores thanks to the use of LED lighting, efficient cooling and heating circuits, and many other measures. Only 16% of the total energy for stores, warehouses and logistics at SPAR comes from district heating, natural gas or oil. 84% is gained from sustainable electricity, with the upward trend set to continue. Currently, 99% of the energy used by SPAR Austria, comes from renewable sources. Furthermore, SPAR Austria continues to extend its own electricity production: 36 photovoltaic systems placed on the roofs of SPAR stores currently meet their needs through solar power. Additional photovoltaic systems are planned.