NCS says M&S energy use cut by 30%

The energy management firm has completed a refit of Marks & Spencer's Barton Square store in the Trafford Centre.

As part of the five-week project, NCS assessed and where necassary replaced lighting, air conditioning, water and refrigeration. The store at Barton Square is now achieving a 30% saving in energy use and, says NCS, will provide a return on investment in less than three years.

NCS has completed 200 similar projects for M&S nationwide in the past four years. In this time, M&S has reduced its energy use by 23% across its estate.

Chris Norburn, managing director of Manchester-based NCS, said: "The stores are able to trade as usual during the implementation of new systems and the installations are always carried out with the minimum of disruption."

Marks & Spencer's Plan A initiative aims to achieve a 25% reduction in energy use by 2012 and a 35% reduction by 2015.

Norburn added: "Due to the energy savings made, the cost of introducing new energy schemes will often be recovered within the agreed targets – typically within three years."

Mervyn Bowden, head of energy management at Marks & Spencer, said: "NCS has played a key role in enabling Marks & Spencer to work towards our Plan A targets. It is a valued partner to Marks & Spencer and has played a key part in reducing our energy consumption."

NCS employs 35 people at its bases in Manchester and Kendal. It has a turnover of £7m a year and is looking to double this within three years.