Best Buy sets goal to reduce emissions

MINNEAPOLIS Best Buy has announced plans to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 8% per square foot across all U.S. stores and operations, including its corporate headquarters, fleet, and distribution centers, by 2012.

In order to accomplish its goal of reducing emissions, Best Buy said it will build new stores with high efficiency lighting and HVAC systems and skylights, update lighting and HVAC systems in existing stores and operations, implement a no-idling policy nationwide for all fleet, upgrade the centralized Energy Management System to better track energy spikes across stores and operations, and test renewable energy sources, including solar panels on select stores.

“We’re proud of the efforts we’ve made over the past decade to decrease our energy use,” said Brian Dunn, president and coo of Best Buy. “And I’m even more proud of the employees and teams, across our stores and operations, who challenge us every day to make a bigger difference through better business practices. This commitment to reduce our emissions signals our willingness to invest in even more efficient operations today, which will save money over time and help us to meet the expectations of our customers, employees, and shareholders.”