Best Buy Co. Inc. announced plans to cut GHG emissions by 8 percent per square foot across all U.S. stores and operations by 2012. The plan also includes its corporate headquarters, fleet, and distribution centers.
According to the company's recent nationwide inventory, Best Buy's U.S. operations and stores emit about 62 pounds of GHG annually per square foot. Electricity use represents 77 percent of the emissions, followed by heating, ventilation and air conditioning at 13 percent; gas for fleet and service vehicles at 5 percent, and diesel for fleet vehicles and natural gas at 2 percent each.
In order to help the company reach its targets, Best Buy plans to build new stores with high efficiency lighting, HVAC systems, and skylights. Existing stores and operation will get skylights, lighting and HVAC systems upgrade. Networking of the centralized Energy Management System will also be upgraded to better track energy spikes across stores and operations. The company will implement a nationwide no-idling policy for all fleet. In addition, Best Buy will conduct tests of renewable energy sources, including solar panels on select stores.
Best Buy was among the 21 companies that received U.S. Department of Energy's award for net-zero energy commercial buildings.
