Sustainable Business in the West
Sustainability leaders from businesses in Melbourne’s west and council staff from the Western Alliance for Greenhouse Action (WAGA) launched the Business EnergyTips website at the Sustainable Business in the West event in May.
If you are interested in making your business more sustainable but missed out, or could not attend, here is your recap.
EnergyTips is a new online resource that offers simple yet powerful ways to save energy and reduce costs for your business.
These tips not only help enhance the comfort of your workplace, but also provide a simple way to protect the environment and become more sustainable.
This tool is designed for small to medium-sized businesses. Whether you run a local shop or restaurant, manage a company or are a small manufacturer, these insights will help you cut your energy expenses and improve operational efficiency.
Businesses can find useful advice about buying energy efficient appliances like fridges, split systems, office appliances and more. There are also tips about how to make the spaces you work in more comfortable and use less power.
This initiative is a collaboration between the Western Alliance for Greenhouse Action and Geelong Sustainability. These organisations are committed to providing valuable insights and practical solutions to residents and businesses in Melbourne’s west.
Visit business.energytips.org.au to get started.
The Latin Foods & Wines sustainability journey
At the Business EnergyTips launch event, attendees heard from a local business that has already implemented some of the improvements outlined on the EnergyTips website. Latin Foods & Wines is a Melton based business that has seen significant growth in their 15 years of trading. Business owner Maria De La Plaza said, “for me the sustainability journey started with bill shock! We run a busy café and as we expanded and opened our wholesale operation our electricity costs increased so much, I knew we had to do something.”
Maria added, “We are leasing our current site but luckily, we have a great landlord. We knew that our investment into solar, a total of 93 panels, would pay itself off pretty quickly. It’s a win-win for both parties as our investment also increases the value of the property.”
Appliance upgrades, including replacing gas with electricity, and monitoring energy use via an app is part of the business’ past and ongoing strategy to reduce their carbon footprint.
Maria says, “Every small step makes a difference. We have already achieved a lot by replacing old equipment with our new coolroom, being more mindful when and how we use our appliances and we’re working with suppliers that offering sustainable products. Our delivery costs have also come down now that we have an electric vehicle. We’re not stopping yet though, there is still a lot of room for improvement.”
Maria summed it up perfectly when she posted on the Latin Foods & Wines Instagram page after the event: “Change can be frightening for many but I guess for me it’s also about evolving, growing and ensuring we set a good example and foundation for our next generation.”
If you are interested in attending future sustainability events you will find relevant information in our newsletters and by following Venture Melton on Facebook.
Other sustainability programs
Melton is joining councils across Victoria to assist businesses purchase renewable energy and cut emissions.
If you are a large market energy consumer and want to join a group to purchase 100% renewable electricity, please visit the council website to register your interest for this program. You will also be able to watch a webinar recording on this topic and learn about the benefits of the project and why you should join.