ODP takes top spot for retail energy efficiency
BOCA RATON, Fla. — Office Depot has announced that 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 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Energy Star National Building Competition. The Plano and Raleigh stores were also the only retailers in the overall top ten list, according to the company.
The competition featured teams from 245 buildings across the country in a head-to-head battle to save energy, reduce costs, and protect Americans’ health and their environment, and included 26 different types of commercial buildings across 33 states and the District of Columbia, according to Office Depot. Energy performance was measured from Sept. 1, 2010 through Aug. 31.
The Office Depot store located at 909 N. Central Expressway in Plano was named the winner in the retail category, leading all other buildings in this category with a 34 percent energy reduction at the conclusion of the competition. Across all industry sectors, the store ranked in eighth place. Office Depot also holds second and third place in the retail category, with stores in Raleigh and Tallahassee achieving 33% and 29% reductions respectively.
By reducing energy in the three competing stores, Office Depot saved more than $37,000 in costs and prevented over 254 metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions, the company said.
“As our stores participated in the EPA’s Energy Star National Building Competition, we’ve improved store operations and maintenance, and upgraded equipment and technology, which helped save energy, cut utility bills, and prevent greenhouse gas emissions,” said Kevin Peters, president North America for Office Depot. “We are proud of the participating Office Depot stores for making such a tremendous effort throughout the competition, and are committed to making all of our stores more energy efficient by continuing to invest in energy-saving measures.”
Office Depot reduced its energy use through a variety of strategies, including:
Completing a major de-lamping effort to remove one out of three lamps per store ballast and installing reflectors;
Installing motion detectors in the receiving area;
Converting to LED exit signs; and
Upgrading heating, ventilation & air conditioning systems.