Classroom Publication

Courtesy of Office Depot

With the business giants Staples and Office Depot competing for supremacy of the better "green" campaigns, the competition lies not only in recycling ink cartridges and cell phones but also in programs that reduce the effects of energy and fuels on the environment and climate.

While both companies actively work to conserve energy, each has different programs and methods that they use to fulfill their goals of "going green.”

Staples:

• Purchased more than 124 million kilowatt-hours of electricity in 2007 in the form of renewable energy certificates which account for 20% of the total U.S. electricity requirements.

• Works with the World Resources Institute as part of the Climate Northeast Partnership, which shares strategies and tactics for succeeding in a carbon-constrained economy.

• A member of Green Power Market Development Group in the United States and in Europe. 

• By working with solar developer SunEdison, Staples hosts 14 active rooftop solar systems and is hoping to have active solar system to generate clean electricity through more than 400 homes.

• Ranked by U.S. EPA's Green Power Partnership fourth of 10 corporate purchasers of “green power.”

• Voluntarily committed to reducing its carbon emissions by 7% between 2001 and 2010.

• Participates in annual Carbon Disclosure Project, which is a large institutional investor coalition seeking information on what companies are confronting climate change.

Office Depot:

• Invested in more than $20 million in energy and efficiency initiatives.

• Reduced its electricity usage and absolute carbon-dioxide emissions from its North American facilities by more than 10% between 2005 and 2006.

• Upgraded the majority of the company's North American retail stores and warehouse to T5 high-output fluorescent lighting which is 35% more efficient than traditional lighting

• Updated Energy Management System to allow facilities and store managers to obtain real-time data and optimize energy usage.

• Purchased nearly 72 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity from renewable energy credits to reduce carbon dioxide emissions on an absolute basis.

• Reduced absolute greenhouse gas emissions from transportation by 9.4% in North America

• Selected as one of 34 companies to receive the EPA's Environmental Excellence Award.

With oil prices so high right now, it is difficult for business owners to find cost savings by reducing fuel used in their operations. However by having both corporate companies reducing energy and finding better resources, it is making the Earth a greener place.

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