In a bid to raise awareness on the benefits and importance of energy conservation, Marina Bay Sands’ Sustainability and Mall Management departments organised the inaugural Retail Tenant Energy Challenge, held between May and July 2018. For their conservation efforts, the seven winning stores were awarded $300 Rasapura Masters vouchers – as well as certificates of recognition by Mr Roger Simons, Associate Director of Sustainability, and Mr Mark Ang, Associate Director of Retail Operations.
We spoke with the winners to learn more about their energy-saving practices.
- Black Knight
- Calvin Klein
- ECCO
- Ferrari Store Junior
- Lacquer and Spa
- MCM
- Orient Crown
Black Knight
Tony Tan, Restaurant Manager
Tony Tan, Restaurant Manager
Congratulations on being one of the challenge winners! What are some ways your company saves energy?
We use some LED lights to reduce our costs. While the decorative lamps [suspended above each table] aren’t LED lights, we make sure to only turn these on during operation hours. And before closing the restaurant for the day, we ensure that unused appliances are turned off – including the lights of the fridge and aquarium.
Have the abovementioned efforts been sustained since the conclusion of the challenge?
Yes, it’s become routine for us to save energy through the above practices, thus helping us cut costs. During off-peak periods, we turn off the air-conditioning and power supply in areas that aren’t being used.
Are there any upcoming sustainability initiatives planned for the near future?
Our motto is ‘Go Green’, and our ongoing initiatives include:
- Reuse resources by cutting order receipts into smaller pieces and using these as order pads
- Save less aesthetically-pleasing dishes for our staff, rather than throw food away
- To minimise food wastage, we encourage customers not to over-order by making recommendations based on the number of diners.
Do you practice sustainability in your daily life, and how so?
I turn off the main power for the TV, Wi-Fi router and electrical appliances when not in use. I also seldom turn on the air-conditioning – and when I do, I set the temperature to 25 degrees with a two-hour timer and the fan turned on to circulate air for the rest of my sleep.
The Black Knight team work to ensure sustainable practices are observed daily
Calvin Klein
Peggy Ong, Store Manager
Peggy Ong, Store Manager
Congratulations on being one of the challenge winners! What are some ways your company saves energy?
We minimise the use of our kettle in-store, and instead take water from the dispenser provided by MBS. We also always switch off the power supply when not in use, and are phasing into using energy-saving lights to cut costs.
Have the abovementioned efforts been sustained since the conclusion of the challenge?
Yes. As one of the winners of this challenge, we’re happy to be setting an example for our other branches. We will continue our everyday practices to maintain this performance.
How has participating in this challenge benefited Calvin Klein?
As a whole, it has enhanced cost-saving and performance. We educate our staff on the importance of energy-saving, not just to reduce our bills but to look after Mother Nature.
ECCO
David To, General Manager
David To, General Manager
Congratulations on being one of the challenge winners! What are some ways your company saves energy?
ECCO has one of the largest solar thermal roof-systems in Thailand to support the energy demands of its tannery. Our vacuum tube collectors convert solar energy into heat that is then captured in water. This hot water is used in the tanning process, and the heat extracted from the water is used for the drying tunnels.
Have the abovementioned efforts been sustained since the conclusion of the challenge?
Yes, because we incorporate these practices daily by ensuring our store and display lights are switched off after operating hours. The challenge was not a factor in terms of energy conservation. We constantly strive to reduce the environmental impact of our operations while increasing the positive impact we have on our communities. We wish to be an environmentally responsible neighbour and conserve resources for future generations through sustainable development.
Senior Sales Associate, Sanny Bugarin, stands before the ECCO store
Ferrari Store Junior
Elaine Tan, Assistant Store Manager
Elaine Tan, Assistant Store Manager
We had LED lights installed when we [set up our Marina Bay Sands outlet] two years ago, and they’re so durable that we haven’t changed them since installing them back then. Another way Ferrari Store Junior saves energy is, our entire wall is operated by one transformer – a system adapted from our Hong Kong [outlet].
Have the abovementioned efforts been sustained since the conclusion of the challenge?
Yes. We make sure to switch off all lights, air-conditioning, credit card machines and the computer every night. I always remind my staff to turn off the power socket after charging their phones.
How has participating in this challenge benefited Ferrari Store Junior?
Previously, we participated in recycling campaigns. But we sell apparel, so it isn’t that relevant to us. Energy-saving for us is more about ensuring electrical appliances are turned off.
Lacquer and Spa
Daniella Lu, Senior Marketing Executive & Graphic Designer
Daniella Lu, Senior Marketing Executive & Graphic Designer
We continuously educate our staff, switch off unused equipment and dim the lights in less-used areas. We also offer less energy-consuming options for guests, such as giving them warm water instead of hot water – as well as reducing the frequency of our towel-cleaning collection from weekly to biweekly.
Have the abovementioned efforts been sustained since the conclusion of the challenge?
Yes, we have. These initiatives have reduced our operating costs as a result, and would help the company in the long term.
Are there any upcoming sustainability initiatives planned for the near future?
We’re planning to switch to Forest Stewardship Certified (FSC) paper.
Do you practice sustainability in your daily life, and how so?
Yes, I do my part by bringing reusable cups and utensils to reduce waste. When I travel, I like to observe and learn about good sustainability practices.
MCM
Christopher Liong, Store Manager
Christopher Liong, Store Manager
Congratulations on being one of the challenge winners! What are some ways your company saves energy?
We have auto-timers that turn off the lights from 1am to 9am. We also upcycle cartons by storing our products in them in the storeroom, and turn off laptops, printers and the air-conditioning when not in use. Reusing and recycling paper and envelopes helps, too.
Have the abovementioned efforts been sustained since the conclusion of the challenge?
These energy-saving culture was instilled in us – and integrated into our daily operations – even before the challenge, in order to be cost-effective.
Do you practice sustainability in your daily life, and how so?
When I was younger, I worked with a manager who helped me understand the importance of reducing and recycling. We spend most of our time at work, and these habits are carried into our personal lives. My power bills went down by 30% after I purchased a new air conditioning with 5 ticks, for example. I also encourage friends to buy appliances with 4 or 5 energy ticks.
Orient Crown
Waleed Abumazen, Managing Director
Waleed Abumazen, Managing Director
Congratulations on being one of the challenge winners! What are some ways your company saves energy?
We are lucky enough to have natural light coming into the store. Most of our products are plugged into electricity all day since we sell watch winders, which cannot be turned off. But we do take energy efficiency into consideration to design products of low voltage. With lower power consumption comes a longer battery life [for each product].
Have the abovementioned efforts been sustained since the conclusion of the challenge?
Yes. We switch off unnecessary lighting that’s not visible to customers. We also avoid using plastics –and the wood in our products is biodegradable.
Are there any upcoming sustainability initiatives planned for the near future?
Moving forward, we plan to continue improving the research and development components of our new products to improve energy efficiency. Customers prefer watch winders with a lower power consumption, since this helps their products last longer. We’re driven by consumer demand to be more sustainable, and it is embedded in our business model.
Do you practice sustainability in your daily life, and how so?
I do. If the weather’s cool, I don’t turn on the air-conditioning. When I buy new electrical appliances, I invest in energy-saving ones.
