Best Buy recognized by DOE for reducing carbon footprint

Minneapolis -- Best Buy’s five-year-long initiative to reduce its carbon footprint by at least 20% by 2020 was commended by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) at White House ceremonies in Washington, D.C. The reduction is part of Best Buy’s organization-wide effort to address climate change.



By utilizing a combination of industry-leading energy management system, store lighting retrofit, and improved fleet and distribution practices, Best Buy has reduced emissions by 26% since 2010. The accomplishment earns the retailer its latest award at this week’s DOE Better Buildings Challenge Summit.



“Our commitment to carbon reduction is part of a larger effort that focuses on everything we can do as a company, along with all we can do to help our customers live more sustainably by managing their own energy use,” said Laura Bishop, VP of public affairs who oversees Best Buy’s corporate responsibility and sustainability team.



Beginning in 2010, Best Buy sought to address its carbon footprint throughout its network of retail locations, distribution and data centers, and transportation infrastructure. Its efforts included:



• Energy management systems at the retailer’s “big-box” stores were installed to centrally control temperature and lighting by synchronizing all systems.



• More than 840 Best Buy stores received lower-wattage fluorescent ceiling fixtures, reducing lighting energy usage by nearly half and brightening store interiors.



• Thousands of Geek Squad cars and trucks were upgraded to more efficient models, and strategically routed to reduce gas consumption.



• Requiring EPA SmartWay certification for all transportation partners, and optimizing store shipments and the transfer of recycled products to partner facilities, led to further reductions.



Best Buy's innovative approaches to energy efficiency as well as its achievements are profiled in the Better Buildings Solution Center at Energy.gov/betterbuildingssolutioncenter.