The year was 2002. Terms like Net Zero and sustainability hardly existed back then. The effects of climate change and global warming were only being sporadically discussed. But this was also the year when Ecosave was founded. Contrary to how the majority of businesses were operating, Ecosave was up and running fighting climate change and creating a pathway for Australia to progress towards Net Zero. From starting with a single Emissions Reduction Solution (lighting) in 2002 to now delivering large-scale Energy Performance Contracts (EPCs), Energy-as-a-Service (EaaS) projects, and being nationally recognised for promoting sustainability, Ecosave has come a long way over its 20-year plus journey. Needless to say, the journey has been filled with lots of memories.
We’ve always been passionate about our goal to help organisations take action against climate change through energy efficiency and emissions reduction measures. Two decades later and counting, the Ecosave team is still focused on delivering sustainable, energy-efficient outcomes for our clients and partners. As we continue to grow, our team of experts continues to share their industry-proven strategies to ensure long-term results and excellent value.
Today, let’s look back at five moments that helped Ecosave grow into a leading Emissions Reduction Company, operating in Australia, New Zealand, and the United States. While there are numerous milestones, we’ve selected five key moments in the company’s history.
2003 – Helping TAFEs Achieve Energy Efficiency and Reduce GHG Emissions
Since we opened up business in 2002, Ecosave has helped businesses save money while helping the environment. Back then, our Light Eco (a fluorescent tube energy saver) did its job by reducing energy bills and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. In what was one of our first major projects, our team helped TAFEs achieve real energy savings and reduce their carbon footprint. This initiative helped them conserve energy and decrease power bills.
But we didn’t stop with just installing Light Eco on TAFEs in the North Coast, South Sydney, and Illawarra. We also offered to plant a native seedling for every tonne of carbon emission a TAFE’s site saves. Ecosave was able to plant and donate (on behalf of the TAFE) 982 trees in 2003.
Fast forward more than a decade later, Ecosave continued its vision to deliver EPCs to TAFEs who aim to reduce their carbon emissions and operating costs. Thanks to our team of experts, the Chisholm Institute’s 65 buildings across 6 campuses, were able to save up to 2,000 tonnes of CO₂-e emissions annually.
2009 – Ecosave Becomes a Founding Member of the Energy Efficiency Council (EEC)
For a company that started in Sydney’s north-western suburbs, it has been a huge honour to be part of the Energy Efficiency Council’s founding. We, the founding members of EEC, came from diverse backgrounds but we all aimed to provide a reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy system for all Australians.
Aside from these, Ecosave continues to work with the Council, and its partner members, to advocate for smart energy management, teach business organisations to choose the right energy management investments, ensure that all policies follow global standards and practices, and advocate for continuing professional development for all energy professionals across Australia. Smart energy management should be the heart of the country’s economy to propel it into a healthier, decarbonised future for all Australians.
This was the period when Ecosave also started taking up landmark projects. Back in 2010, the company was awarded the energy performance contract (EPC) and delivered an Energy and Water Efficiency Retrofit for 47 of City of Sydney’s Buildings and Operations. This was one of the most ambitious projects for any Australian government. It was a milestone project for Ecosave as this was a part of the City’s commitment to improving its performance under the 2030 Suitable Sydney vision.
2018 – Our First Energy Services Agreement (ESA) in Australia
Ecosave have pioneered innovation in energy services delivery and funding solution. Back in 2013, after many months of development and consultation with company lawyers and one of Australia’s ‘Big Four’ accounting firms, Ecosave launched a new service to the market – the fully OPEX, Ecosave Services Agreement – a service agreeement and financial structure that keeps capital expenditure (capex) items off balance sheet.
While the ESA has always been a viable mechanism, the Australian market wasn’t ready and relatively conservative as compared to the US market. Since 2014, Ecosave has had significant success with implementing ESAs to dozens of organisations.
In 2018, Ecosave relaunched its ESA in the Australian market and was successful in implementing the first ESA in Australia at 99 St George Tce, Perth.
The owners of a 50-year-old landmark building in Perth’s CBD knew they needed to upgrade their building – which at the time had a Zero Star NABERS rating, a very low occupancy/high vacancy rate, and were wary of getting themselves into debt to invest in energy efficiency and sustainability improvements.
Ecosave was successful in raising the building’s NABERS baseline from zero (0) rating to 4 stars through the innovative ESA, while ensuring the owners did not incurr any debt.
Since we understood their fears and concerns, we explained how our ESA works and the immediate benefits of having a 4.0 Star NABERS Rating for their business’s bottom line. Ecosave assured the building’s owner that it would be a zero-dollar upfront cost because it would be funded by our 10-year ESA, which ensures a cash-flow positive outcome.
The property manager, Collier’s International’s Building & Sustainability Manager, Patrick Jeannerat, worked with Ecosave and entrusted us with its modern upgrades. Mr. Jeannerat is satisfied with increased market demand for the 13-storey property, after earning its new NABERS ratings, and a significant decrease in operating overhead costs.
2021 – Pro-Invest Group’s Holiday Inn Express Becomes the First Australian Hotel to Achieve Carbon Neutral Certification from NABERS
Despite the challenges of the global pandemic, we move forward and continue to help organisations transition to net zero emissions. Since the EEC calls for its members to build a stronger and cleaner post-pandemic Australia, we supported Pro-Invest Group to accomplish an Australian first: to become the first hotel to achieve Carbon Neutral status.
Pro-Invest Group’s focus on ESG and active participation in GRESB makes them an ideal partner for Ecosave to work with an organisation that aims to become net zero by the next decade. Our team of Net Zero Experts provided a strategic framework to ensure that the company’s net zero strategies will come to fruition.
The disruptions caused by the COVID-19 resurgence didn’t deter Holiday Inn Express’ (Newcastle) from becoming Carbon Neutral-Certified from NABERS and winning the Green Hotel of the Year Award or the Finder Green Awards.
In fact, the Net Zero Strategy Framework we developed is now being considered by Pro-Invest Group for its entire hotel portfolio to achieve its Net Zero 2030 goal.
2022 – Winning the Promoting Sustainability Award (State Winner, VIC) Telstra Business Awards
Ask any business leader and they will tell you that winning an award is not just a feather in an organisation’s hat: it’s the culmination of all the challenges and hard work the organisation endured till awards night.
Out of more than 24,000 nominees across the country, Ecosave was chosen as a finalist for the State of Victoria. Receiving recognition as a finalist was big news for everyone and we were happy about it. But winning the State Award (VIC) for Promoting Sustainability was a surreal moment. Receiving and physically holding that award celebrates our collective efforts as a company, which also inspires us to continue our mission to deliver energy conservation services and independent resource management to all our clients.
There are numerous more milestones related to our work of implementing more than 3,000 projects since 2002; honourable mentions include:
- Implementing innovative emissions reduction solutions at Primo Smallgoods and winning the ‘Best Industrial Energy Efficiency Project 2014’
- Winning eight out of eight consecutive EPCs issued by the NSW Department of Education
- Eliminating more than 9,100 tonnes of CO₂-e across six local government councils in Melbourne (EAGA)
- Implementing more than 21 MWh of Solar capacity across 250 plus schools in Queensland
Ecosave’s Commitment For the Future
As we celebrate over 20 years of reducing energy costs and emissions for private and public sector organisations, we remain focused on our core passion of ‘Imagineering a Sustainable Future’ and partnering with organisations to achieve their long term sustainability targets through innovative, scalable Net Zero solutions.
To find out more or to discuss your energy efficiency and emissions reduction requirements, Connect with us or call 1300 557 764.
