Solar Panels have taken Australia and New Zealand by storm. In Australia, the medium-scale solar sector has more than doubled over the past two years. Shopping centres, hospitals, schools and commercial buildings are benefiting from savings on their electricity bills while focusing on sustainability. Across the ditch, commercial solar is also booming in New Zealand, with an average annual growth rate of 56.5%.
Thanks to solar panels, Bunzl Australia and New Zealand are on track to reduce Scope 1 and Scope 2 Greenhouse Gas emissions to zero by 2030. Scope 1 emissions are produced directly from activities within a business at a facility level such as burning of diesel fuel in trucks or manufacturing. Scope 2 emissions are released into the atmosphere from the use of coal for electricity generation. Solar panels can reduce both Scope 1 and 2 emissions.
“As an organisation, we lease over 35 properties in Australia and New Zealand in mainly warehousing, offices and a few stores,” says Bunzl ANZ’s Head of Sustainability, Felicity Kelly. “We engage directly with landlords and commercial property developers to include things like rainwater harvesting, efficient lighting and, of course, rooftop solar.”
Across Bunzl ANZ sites, consumption of renewable electricity has increased by over 200,00 kWh over the past year with the introduction of solar panels. The company saves money because energy isn’t transferred over long distances using expensive electrical infrastructure. The panels generate electricity during hot sunny periods when the demand for machinery and air conditioning is at its peak – free energy when it’s needed most.
