Retail companies turn off lights, reduce operating hours to save energy

As energy bills rise and the threat of rationing intensifies, some European retailers are turning off the lights and considering shorter opening hours this winter.

Energy chiefs and government officials are urging citizens and businesses to reduce energy consumption and draw up contingency plans to reduce reliance on gas imports in the event of shortages linked to the war in Ukraine.

The Austrian arm of the multinational retail chain SPAR Group is reducing the hours during which the lights are on on advertising signs in store fronts and outside them, with the measure affecting more than 1,500 stores across the country, a spokesman said. company. The move will reduce the company’s energy consumption by one million kilowatt hours per year, the spokesman said, without specifying how much money would be saved.

Last month, the head of Leclerc warned that France’s biggest food retailer may reduce the opening hours of its stores to deal with power shortages.

Just a week ago, rival French supermarket company Carrefour signed an “Eco-Watt Charter” with national energy grid operator RTE, reducing electricity consumption in its stores during periods of high demand.

Some retailers, such as Belgium’s Colruyt and Ahold, may not be significantly affected by potential disruption and cost increases as they already have sustainable energy programs in place to save electricity. “No specific measures are planned in the short term, but the firm ambition is to continue efforts within the overall energy policy,” said a Colruyt spokesman.

Ahold is looking for ways to reduce energy consumption, CEO Frans Miller said in an interview. “We haven’t made any decisions on operating hours but we are looking much more seriously at energy use,” he said.

SOURCE: AMPE