The Home Depot reduces energy use

Atlanta The Home Depot said it has reduced its U.S. store energy use by 2.6 billion kilowatt-hours (kWh) since 2004 and that it will achieve a 20% reduction in kWh per square foot usage in its U.S. stores by 2015.

The company has also set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in its domestic supply chain by 20% within the next five years.

Home Depot is in the process of calculating its comprehensive carbon footprint based on the World Resources Institute and World Business Council for Sustainable Development protocol, an emerging standard for government and business leaders to understand, quantify and manage greenhouse gas emissions. The results of the findings will be released next year.

"While our accomplishments in lowering our store energy use have been significant, we will identify additional ways we can continue the reduction,” said Ron Jarvis, VP of environmental innovation for The Home Depot. “In addition, the changes we are making to increase productivity in our supply chain will allow us to reduce our transportation greenhouse gas emissions substantially."

During the past six years, Home Depot has reduced its U.S. stores' energy per square foot consumption by 16%. At the start of 2004, the company’s energy usage was 25 kWh per square foot. Through a series of operational programs, including the upgrading of store HVAC systems, aligning of stocking hours more closely with store operating hours, use of CFL bulbs and a switch to T5 lighting, the company’s U.S. store energy usage now stands at 21 kWh per square foot. Since these reductions began in 2004, the company has saved 2.6 billion kWh of energy, enough energy to power 203,000 homes for one year.

Moving forward, the company believes it can reach 20 kWh per square foot of energy usage by 2015.