QWESTNet held a Cost Savings for Sunshine Coast business forum in August, in partnership with the Sunshine Coast Council, Cleantech Industries Sunshine Coast and the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation.

The forum focused on how businesses can utilise sustainable water, energy and waste practices and technologies to reduce their overhead costs and improve their bottom line. The forum included presentations on the importance of energy efficiency and demand management, water treatment technology options, support programs and a variety of local case studies. 

See the links below to recordings of each presentation - and if you have a slow internet connection just wait a couple of minutes for each presentation to load.

5 Star sustainability practices


Presenter: Richard Phillips
, Sheraton Noosa Resort & Spa

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Sheraton Noosa Resort and Spa is one of the major consumers of utilities and generators of waste on the Sunshine Coast. It is also one of the largest local employers.  Acknowledged as being at the forefront of sustainability projects within the local hospitality industry, Sheraton Noosa has proven that embracing the stewardship of environmental best practice is not only cost effective, it also engages staff, creates marketing opportunities and embraces community expectations.

Maximise your energy


Presenter: Mark Leckenby, 
Auzion Sustainable Solutions
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The Auzion Energy Maximiser (AuziMAX) is a device designed to help businesses to be more energy efficient and to make savings on their power bill.The product monitors and breaks down energy consumption throughout a building including power, lighting, air conditioning, pool pumps and hot water and provides various alerts when over budget via email / sms etc. Testing so far shows energy savings from 10 – 20% are achievable if the device is used effectively. Check out Mark's presentation to find out more.

The benefits of water conservation


Presenter: David Lumb
, Clearmake
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Clearmake designs and manufactures water treatment and recycling solutions predominantly for industrial and commercial applications. Clearmake has recently introduced the innovative Electropure technology into their range of solutions. David explained how the Electropure technology works, the technical benefits compared to other technologies and its applications. David also gave an overview of the business benefits of water conservation through on site water treatment and recycling.

So what's new?


Presenter: Peter Logovik, 
Ashburner Francis
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What's important in your workplace environment? Built environment air conditioning systems are often doing just the right thing when people don't notice anything at all... ensuring as fewer people as possible are uncomfortable in their work place environment. However, few link HVAC installation to operating cost vs. productivity. Design methods can have a positive impact on your workplace look and feel, increased productivity and reduce running costs if you give some new technologies a go.

Sustainability in Action


Presenter: Melissa Chaddock
, Ritek Building Solutions
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As a way to reduce operating costs whilst expanding their business, Ritek Building Solutions undertook an eco-efficiency project to reduce their energy and water usage and to maximise waste recycling from their manufacturing facility. The initiatives undertaken have considerably reduced their resource usage and operating costs.

Retrofitting industrial buildings for comfort, profit and pleasure!


Presenter: Liza Neil
, Gomango Architects

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Significant numbers of adults spend their daily lives in sheds. Small changes for little cost can have big impacts on health, happiness and productivity. In the last year, Part J of the Building Code of Australia has changed the way we design Industrial Buildings and The Green Building Council of Australia have issued a Green Star tool for Industrial Buildings. With possible upcoming changes and incentives to become more carbon efficient, now is a great time to plan and rethink the shed.


Bottom Line savings for Sunshine Coast business


Presenter: Emma Menzies
, Sunshine Coast Council

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Emma will present stories from Sunshine Coast ecoBiz partners and Peregian Beach ClimateSmart Business Cluster participants. Her presentation covered how Tewantin RSL saved over $2000 per annum. She also highlighted how Hyatt Coolum implemented ecoefficiencies to save them over 492 tonnes of C02-e in energy reduction, 24 million litres of water and they reduced their waste by 49%.

The ‘How to’ of staff engagement


Presenter: Don Parry
, Ignite Sustainability and Qld Complete Printing
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Don shared not only the WHAT but also the HOW of Staff Engagement and in doing so shared many years of workplace and elite sports coaching knowledge about how to create and engage a project focused team. He believes that real change is created by Passionate People with a Plan and discussed the transition from project champions to champion teams and finally a sustainable workplace culture.



Energy conservation and demand side management


Presenter: Geoff McDonald, 
ENERGEX

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Attendees learnt about the causes of rising electricity prices and a number of initiatives being implemented by ENERGEX that are aimed at reducing demand on their network and at the same time improve the energy efficiency of Commercial and Industrial customers. Geoff elaborated on the Peak Demand Reduction initiative which is currently in the early stages of being rolled out with some of the top 200 customers on the ENERGEX network.

ecoBiz programs for Sunshine Coast Business

Presenter: Scott Claydon, Department of Environment and Resource Management
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This presentation outlined how simple actions and readily available tools can have a profound effect on your businesses' bottom line. Using examples from the ecoBiz program, ecoBiz demonstrates how Queensland businesses are reducing their carbon footprint by 20% and saving an average of $80 000 per annum through simple low-cost actions.