Boca Raton, FL — Office Depot has reduced its energy usage by 27.5% across its building portfolio, becoming the first general retailer to be recognized for realizing a greater than 20% reduction.
Boca Raton, FL — Office Depot has joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) list of ENERGY STAR Leaders for reducing its energy consumption by 27.5% across its building portfolio. ENERGY STAR Leaders is an elite group of organizations that have improved energy efficiency across all of the facilities in a portfolio. Office Depot’s significant reduction makes the company the first general retailer (non-supermarket) to be recognized for realizing a greater than 20% reduction.
“This achievement, combined with our efforts in the area of environmentally sustainable building, demonstrates our commitment to environmental stewardship while also lowering energy costs,” says Ed Costa, vice president of construction for Office Depot.
Office Depot’s 27.5% energy reduction across 1,123 sites was accomplished as a result of investing in energy efficiency and green building initiatives. Such projects have included:
- Upgrading energy management systems.
- Retrofitting lighting from HID to T5.
- Completing a major de-lamping effort to remove one out of three lamps per store ballast.
- Converting to LED exit signs in stores.
- Upgrading HVAC systems nationwide.
Office Depot has also installed motion detectors in receiving areas and bathrooms in its stores and distribution centers, reviewed and modified indoor and outdoor lighting schedules and thermostat set points, purchased ENERGY STAR qualified equipment for internal use, and installed solar panels and skylights in select stores in its chain.
Going forward, Office Depot has committed to tracking improvements in energy efficiency by using Portfolio Manager, the EPA’s online energy measurement and tracking tool. Office Depot will also pursue ENERGY STAR certification for 185 eligible sites and use the ENERGY STAR ratings to increase efficiency in less efficient stores.
The company also aims to reduce its absolute carbon footprint in North America by 25% (2005 baseline) to under 300,000 MtCO2e by the end of 2012.
EDITOR’S NOTE: For a related story from RETAIL FACILITY BUSINESS magazine on Office Depot’s environmental efforts, please click here.