Co-op slashes energy use

Manchester-based Co-operative Group said it has reduced the amount of energy it uses by 12.5%.

The retailer aims to cuts its total energy usage by 25% by 2012.

The Co-op said savings were down to energy efficient measures being introduced into 4000 plus outlets as part of a re-branding.

Nigel Holden, head of energy and environment at The Co-op, said: “With the largest retail network of any corporate organisation in the UK, to re-brand and refit every outlet is a massive undertaking and it has been a key priority for us to make our stores as energy efficient as possible while remaining cost effective.

“We have already succeeded in achieving multi-million pound savings to date which demonstrate that we have implemented some fantastic energy efficiency measures around the business. In addition to these technical measures, we have a well-established ‘good housekeeping’ system embedded throughout the business, including an energy champion at every store"