There are over 350 retailers operating at Knox Shopping Centre, including Knox O-Zone.
With so many retailers, and a vast number of customers coming through Knox Shopping Centre every year, this can equate to a large amount of water and electricity consumption and the production of a lot of rubbish.
Over some time now Knox Shopping Centre has made a number of changes towards lessening its impact on the environment, lightening its carbon footprint and improving sustainability in the local area. Considerable improvements have been made in areas such as water and electricity consumption, waste generation, and the volume of greenhouse gas emissions.
We invite you to view how Knox Shopping Centre is working towards a healthier earth…
Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Whilst recycling is something that has been embedded in society for some time now, the concept of minimising greenhouse gas emissions is relatively new. Emissions of the main greenhouse gas, Carbon Dioxide (CO2), primarily results from burning fossil fuels and from activities such as clearing trees and ploughing soil. Savings in carbon emissions can be achieved in a number of ways, such as reducing
electrical and gas consumption. This is an important focus area for Knox Shopping Centre. In 2008 the centre achieved a 1,077 tonne reduction in carbon emissions or 21,554,000 of black balloons! This has been achieved partly by turning off non-essential equipment in the centre and encouraging retailers to turn off their lights and computers during non-trading hours. With proposed changes in legislation, carbon emissions will become a key factor for all businesses in Australia and Knox Shopping Centre is no different.
Water
Since 2006, Knox Shopping Centre has reduced its annual water consumption by a total of 30 mega litres. This is equivalent to over 12 Olympic swimming pools! This significant reduction in water consumption has been achieved in conjunction with South East Water, and the centre’s Water Management Action Plan (WaterMAP). The WaterMAP is an agreed action plan between South East Water and Knox Shopping Centre that outlines how the centre will reduce its total water consumption. Here are just some of the initiatives that have been implemented as part of Knox Shopping Centre’s WaterMAP:
• Restrictor valves on all taps throughout the centre
• Installation of two 45,000 litre rainwater storage tanks
• Disconnecting an automatic irrigation system and using harvested rainwater instead
• Using harvested rainwater to pressure clean all entrances and loading docks in the centre
• Upgrading air-conditioning plant equipment such as cooling towers to more water efficient models
• Installing low flush toilet facilities as amenity blocks are upgraded
• Landscaping all centre garden beds to place a greater emphasis on drought tolerant plants
Waste
Knox Shopping Centre recycles the following waste streams:
• Cardboard
• Plastic
• Glass
• Mall fluoro tubes
• Kitchen oils
In 2008, Knox Shopping Centre diverted over 550 tonnes of waste from landfill by recycling. This is equivalent to 73 of the largest land mammals, the African Elephant!
This was achieved through the combined efforts of all the retailers at the centre and the introduction of a simple colour coding scheme that makes it easier for everyone to recycle.
Electricity
In 2008, Knox Shopping Centre reduced its electricity consumption by 850,000 kilowatts per hour. This is the equivalent energy consumption of approximately 135 homes in one year!
Here are just some of the ongoing projects that have contributed to this significant reduction in electricity consumption at Knox Shopping Centre:
• Upgrading air-conditioning plant equipment such as cooling towers to more electricity efficient models.
• Installing Variable Speed Drives (VSDs) onto air-conditioning pump motors throughout the centre which allows the motors to work less during off peak times.