Greengage undertook a renewable energy feasibility assessment on two large retail outlets in Scotland to investigate the potential for renewable energy being integrated into the building operations. This included an investigation into the existing energy usage of the outlets and mechanisms to improve the overall performance.
A detailed review of the buildings operations and modelling of the requirements needed for the inclusion of a selection of low and zero carbon technologies indicated that while both sites did have windspeeds that could generate power via wind turbines, the amount of energy generated would be extremely small in comparison to the energy used by the landlord’s systems.
However, with the application of the energy hierarchy and findings from the energy review revealed that the introduction of a range of energy efficiency measures, to reduce energy use in the first instance prior to consideration of costly renewables, would provide a more budget conscious manner in delivering a reduction in CO2.
The findings and measures to reduce energy use through efficiency were included within the planned asset management programme, with more cost saving measures being incorporated to realise immediate returns.
This not only improved the financial performance of the operations of the retail outlets but also contributed to British Land’s commitment to reduce CO2 emissions from their retail portfolio.
