Office Depot Recognized as a 2012 EPA Energy Star Leader

July 12, 2012

Office Depot Inc. has been named to the Environmental Protection Agency’s list of 2012 Energy Star Leaders for Leadership in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Energy Star Leaders is an elite group of organizations that have improved energy efficiency across entire portfolios of commercial buildings. Office Depot’s significant energy reduction makes the company the first ever retailer in the United States to be recognized for a 30 percent or greater improvement. Office Depot also reduced its carbon facilities carbon footprints by 37 percent less from 2004 to 2011.

In the baseline year of 2004, Office Depot facilities emitted 381,689 metric tons of carbon dioxide. By 2011, the carbon footprint of Office Depot’s facilities was 239,319 metric tons -- a reduction of over 140,000 metric tons, equivalent to the annual greenhouse gas emissions of nearly 28,000 passenger vehicles, using the EPA calculator.

"Office Depot is pleased to be recognized as an Energy Star Leader for the second time,” said Edward Costa, vice president of construction for Office Depot, which operates 1,678 stores in 60 countries. "Becoming the first retailer to achieve 30 percent or greater energy reduction further demonstrates our commitment to environmental leadership as we continue to implement a range of initiatives that uphold the company’s global environmental strategy to Buy Greener, Be Greener and Sell Greener.”

The achievement was accomplished as a result of investing in energy efficiency and green building initiatives. Such projects have included a major de-lamping effort and a change to energy efficient lamps, reflectors and ballasts; the installation of motion detectors in receiving areas; continued upgrades to building HVAC systems; and aggressive energy management controls and monitoring.

“Making our buildings more energy efficient is one of the most effective ways for American businesses, government and other organizations to save money and reduce the pollution going into the air we breathe,” said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. “With help from EPA’s Energy Star program, leaders like Office Depot are benefiting their bottom lines while protecting our health and the environment.”

Office Depot stores in Plano, Texas; Raleigh, N.C.; and Tallahassee, Fla., won the top three spots for retail energy efficiency gains in the 2011 EPA Energy Star National Building Competition. The company’s global headquarters in Boca Raton, Fla., received Energy Star certification in 2011. Office Depot was also recognized as an Energy Star Leader for 2011 for more than a 20 percent energy efficiency improvement across its domestic portfolio compared to its 2004 baseline.

GRD Views: Congratulations to Office Depot on this impressive achievement and recognition as an Energy Star Leader. -- John Failla for Green Retail Decisions

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Keywords: carbon emissions, energy efficiency

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