Kathmandu has installed a solar power system to its Blackburn store in Victoria as part of its long-term commitment to sustainability.
Kathmandu project manager for store development, Dean Smith said the move reflected the company’s focus on having a positive impact on the environment.
“Kathmandu has been using sustainable practices for over 30 years and they are integral to our operations. Being able to improve our environmental footprint is one of our key pillars. The solar and battery powered system will allow us to operate 100% off the grid and be self-sufficient. With a five year pay-back plan it will also lead to substantial cost savings and even allow power to be put back into the system.”
Once complete, the solar-battery generator will provide 100% of the Blackburn site’s needs at 92,000 kilowatt-hours, offset by over 124 tonnes of Co2 emissions. It will provide full battery backup power in the event of grid failure or overcast days.
Smith said while it won’t be possible for solar power to be rolled out across the entire store network with many stores located in large shopping centres, Kathmandu intends to assess the stores that could be adapted for solar power in the future.
A live feed of the stores solar activities will be displayed on a monitor within the store allowing customers to view the power generation versus usage.