Meeting environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) goals are increasingly important in a sustainability-savvy world. Retailers that walk the talk when it comes to sustainability have the ability to appease customers, business partners and investors. Opting for solar energy can tick those boxes while also helping your bottom line.
Achieving ESG and sustainability goals at the corporate level can help shareholders, attract and retain employees and help long term business profit, says Energus Marketing Manager Angus Edmonds.
“If there aren’t active sustainability efforts, corporate businesses can be seen to be harming the environment, which means trust isn’t as strong with customers, employees and investors,” he says.
“Solar is one of the strongest ways to reduce carbon emissions and contribute to sustainability efforts.”
Energus is said to be one of Australia’s leading provider of commercial solar solutions, with over 70 years of combined industry. Energus has been involved in many iconic installations throughout Australia including the Australian National Maritime Museum and Sydney Art Gallery. It’s also been involved in solar installations for the petrochemical industry, including BOC and Elgas.
Mr Edmonds says there are many sustainability advantages to solar power, including dramatically reducing carbon output and improving the green star rating of building.
Converting to solar can also help address rising energy costs, enabling businesses to reinvest in their business.
“Often, solar systems are cash flow positive with long term savings and a great return on investment,” says Mr Edmonds, adding that those making the switch to solar may see their energy costs decrease from 25c/kwh of electricity to 2c/kwh.
“Savings like this year on year mean more capital that otherwise would go to energy costs available to businesses – capital that can be invested elsewhere for the business, such as other growth initiatives.”
After a record 2019, says Energus, commercial solar installations continued their exponential growth in 2020 with over 150,000 businesses having installed solar to date.
Read more about how convenience retailers are embracing solar in the latest issue of Convenience World.
