WESTQUAY is set to enhance its green credentials with a raft of new power-saving measures.

Bosses at the Southampton shopping centre – one of the largest in the south – hope to cut electricity usage by 30 per cent over the next couple of months.

Significantly, it means the city’s carbon footprint could be reduced by about 1,060 tonnes each year.

WestQuay owners Hammerson also wants to install recycling bins for paper, plastics and glass. At the moment, everything put in litter bins is collected to go to landfill.

Work has already begun on the task of replacing about 10,000 fluorescent strips with low energy lights. In March, voltage power optimisation technology will also be installed to help cut electricity costs.

Under the schemes, power usage will drop from 6,000 megawatts a year to about 4,000.

Hammerson sustainability adviser Carl Brooks said the initiatives were steps towards having the centre’s green credentials internationally recognised.

Masters students at the University of Southampton were also recently commissioned to provide expert consultancy advice.

The students assessed how WestQuay could reduce its overall environmental impact.

PANASH, the student group whose pitch was chosen as the best, will now have their ideas taken forward and developed into the centre’s environmental management system.

University course director Simon Kemp said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for students to help solve real-life problems and to apply the things they are learning as part of their studies to a commercial organisation.

“Working with WestQuay in this way offers them a unique learning experience, enabling them to develop really good skills and increase their future employability.”

Professor Debra Humphris, the university’s pro vice-chancellor of education, said: “This is yet another example of how the university helps to support the local and regional economy through its expertise and links with business and industry.”

Mr Kemp is already looking for a local company in need of an environmental management system or environmental review to work with the university as a case study in 2009.

Any local businesses interested in finding out more should email Simon Kemp at s.kemp@soton.ac.uk.