When the Alto Hotel was built in 2006, sustainability features were built into the design. Today, the hotel achieves outstanding savings in energy, waste and water use. While these features added approximately $450,000 to the $5 million build, savings on electricity, water, gas and chemicals are estimated at $50,000 per annum, and creates a point of different for customers.

At the Footscray Community Arts Centre in Footscray, the site includes a heritage listed building and warehouse, and an outdoor amphitheatre and lawn. The site’s annual electricity spend it $27,000 (from an annual usage of 130,000 kWh) plus around $3000 in natural gas cost (from an annual usage of 200,000 MJ). An energy assessment identified this could be reduced by $11,000 per year (39% of annual spend) by implementing the suggested opportunities. 

ABC Castings is a privately owned non-ferrous casting foundry located in Sydney’s Riverwood. It supplies castings to niche markets in mining and rail. Energy assessments showed savings of over 50% could be made by retrofitting existing lighting with light emitting diodes (LEDs) or induction fittings. Not only would this save on energy, but the change would reduce waste, and provide better directional lighting for focused jobs. Installing skylights was also shown to save up to 30% on lighting costs. 

Major’s SUPA IGA has served its community for more than 100 years.  The owners have implemented numerous energy efficiency measures including airlocking the store entrance - creating a thermal barrier, by installing a second door, reduces air exchange between external and internal areas of the store, and cuts the heating, cooling and refrigeration load. Upgrading the heating and cooling system - installing variable speed drives to the heat pump and upgrading the cooling tower to a compressed condenser with high efficiency fans to reduce energy input to energy output requirements and increas

Caernarvon Orchard in Orange, NSW, produces and packs 4,500 tonnes of apples and 800 tonnes of cherries per annum. About 5% of its annual electricity spend is on lighting (around $3,400 pa). An energy audit found that replacing high bay lighting fixtures with LEDs would save $2,120 a year (from a one off investment of $5,600). Savings would also come from using electronic lighting ballasts, and replacing fluorescent tubes.

Located in Goondiwindi, Queensland Chesterfield Australia is an Agricultural and Construction Equipment company. The Goondiwindi site has both workshop and a retail spaces requiring specific lighting. During the Financial Years 2012/13, the facility consumed 119,984 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity, emitting 103 tonnes of carbon. An energy audit identified potential energy efficiency cost savings of approximately $6605 a year using light emitting diodes (LEDs) upgrades, with a payback period of just 2.2 years.

After an audit helped the owners of Berwicks Office Technology reduce energy costs in its 900 sqm building in Brisbane’s West End. Upgrading to a new digital metering system helped Berwicks to track spikes in energy use, while upgrading lighting made the parking garage safer and more energy efficient. It also led the company to replace its 200 fluorescent tubes with light emitting diodes (LEDs), resulting in a better visual experience for customers and staff, as well as reducing its electricity needs by around 30,000 kilowatt hours (kWh) a year.

When an energy assessment clearly showed the owners of Victoria’s Central Kitchens where its energy was going, the company set about reducing its costs by: upgrading to an energy efficient air compressor; introducing better start-up and shut-down procedures; replacing halogen lights with compact flurorescent lamps (CFLs) and light emitting diodes (LEDs), installing timer buttons in toilets; fitting timers and exhaust fans to the drink machines and installing CFLs to its high bay. 

Queensland Murray Darling Committee Inc (QMDC) completed an energy audit on an aged care facility near Warwick, Queensland. The retirement home consists of single level accommodation buildings and the capacity to accommodate 40 residents. During the Financial Years 2012/13, the facility consumed 114,467 kWh of electricity, emitting 98 tonnes of carbon. An energy audit identified potential energy efficiency cost savings worth approximately $4,257 per annum with an average payback period of 3.1 years.

UnitingCare Community is a Queensland-based provider of community services. After energy audits were completed on a number of its 297 properties, the organisation began energy efficiency improvements as one of its first initiative. At Gipps Street, electricity consumption was high relative to floor area, until changes were made.

The ‘Watts in Your Business’ project conducted by Apple and Pear Australia Ltd completed energy audits of 30 packhouses and orchards Australia-wide. This fact sheet shows how lighting changes can cut energy use and save money.

At Bendigo Community Health Services an energy assessment became the starting point for knowing how to reduce the organisation’s overall energy use. The result, implemented via Green Teams, saw a 6.1% energy reduction and annual savings of $5000, mostly thanks to: implementing a behaviour change program, changing how air conditioners were used; installing timers on hot water units; installing solar panels and replacing fluorescent tubes with light emitting diodes (LEDs) and solar tubes. 

Brisbane’s Manly Hotel was able to save 873,188 MJ of energy (a $20,000 saving for the  business) by focusing on energy efficiency. This case study highlights where savings were made: most came through the installation of energy-efficient equipment, including power factor correction equipment; upgrades to air conditioners and televisions and replacing halogen globes with light emitting diodes (LEDs).  The business also reduced hot water temperatures by 10°C. 

The Alto Hotel on Bourke in inner city Melbourne aims to lead its field in energy efficiency practices. Changes are extensive and have included equipping air conditioning with inverter and moment sensor technology (an $8000 saving); finding ways to optimise heating in an heritage building (solutions include staggered stud wall systems, multiple layers of floor coverings, and heat reflecting, double glazed windows). This factsheet outlines many of the 4-star hotel’s initiatives to bring energy efficiency to the front of its business model. 

Energy efficiency improvements at the Mackay based Cape Hillsborough Nature Resort have led to savings of over $30,000 a year (including savings made through waste and water management). This family-owned business has – amongst other changes – replaced its six gas-fired hot water systems with four heat pump systems, changed all lighting to energy efficient globes, and installed sensor lights where practical. 

When CatholicCare Social Services in Parramatta looked at the results of an energy assessment, it was obvious there was potential to save money.  The top 5 opportunities for change would cost $12,000 to implement, but save $3000 a year. The organisation has already implemented lighting sensors and timers, and is planning to replace its HVAC Chiller units. 

Generations Church, just north of Cairns, comprises a large hall, served by a large commercial chiller unit; a number of small rooms and offices (all with wall air conditioners) and an adjacent building with toilets, kitchen and a community room. An energy assessment show that for an investment of $2550, the top five opportunities to save could be implemented, bringing projected annual savings of $1430.

At Hidden Valley, 1.5 hours out of Townsville, rising diesel prices prompted this accommodation provider to improve their businesses energy efficiency.  This case study details some of their actions, including changing traditional light bulbs for energy-saving compact fluorescents, and replacing fridges with more energy-efficient models. 

At Bendigo’s Indulge Fine Belgian Chocolates, energy efficiency improvements began with behaviour change: at night, all lights are switched and electric hot water is unplugged. Next, the owner installed light emitting diodes (LEDs), an energy-efficient refrigerator, never ran the air conditioner at less than 25°C degrees, and used excess heat from machinery to replace the store’s reverse cycle heater in winter. These combined actions mean that despite the business growing 20% in the last 4 years, its energy consumption has stayed still; a cost saving of $1600 per annum.

Townsville’s Kath and Kin Association provides opportunities for people with psychiatric and physical disabilities, acquired brain injuries, and people with disabilities.