EPA Recognizes Staples as One of Nations Top Green Power Purchasers (MA)
(Boston, Mass. – August 30,
2010) – For the sixth year in a row, Staples, Inc., the
worlds’ largest office supply company, based in Framingham,
Mass., is being recognized by EPA as one of the top 50
organizations taking voluntary steps to use and purchase green
power. Staples purchases more than 146 million kilowatt-hours (kWh)
of green power annually, which is enough green power to meet more
than 20 percent of the organization’s purchased electricity
use. The company is also a member of the Green Power Leadership
Club, a distinction given to organizations that have significantly
exceeded EPA’s minimum purchase requirements.
“Staples is honored to be recognized by EPA in their
national Green Power Top 50 list,” said Mark Buckley, vice
president of environmental affairs, Staples, Inc. “Using
renewable power is a key part of Staples’ company-wide
commitment to sustainable business practices.” EPA’s
Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program helping to increase
the use of green power among U.S. organizations. There are
currently hundreds of partners utilizing green power to reduce the
environmental impacts from conventional electricity generation,
including Fortune 500 companies, local, state and federal
governments, trade associations as well as colleges and
universities. Each of the award winners are EPA Green Power
Partners who must meet or exceed EPA purchase requirements for
green power.
The majority of Staples’ green power consists of renewable
energy certificates, but they also purchase direct green power
through various utility programs. Staples now has twenty-four
active solar power systems on distribution centers and retail
stores and is investigating future projects involving fuel cells
and wind power. Additionally, there are environmentally preferable
products and in-store recycling options in its North American
stores. An active participant in EPA’s Fortune 500 Green
Power Challenge, Staples not only ranks as one of the largest
purchasers and Green Power on the National Top 50 list, but also
ranks among the Top 10 Retail list of green power purchasers,
serving as a great example for other businesses to follow.
Staples’ green power purchase of more than 146 million
kilowatt-hours (kWh) is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide
(CO2) emissions of more than 16,000 passenger vehicles per year, or
is the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power 12,000
average American homes every year.
EPA’s Green Power Partnership works with more than 1,200
partner organizations to voluntarily purchase green power to reduce
the environmental impacts of conventional electricity use. Overall,
EPA’s green power partners are using more than 17 billion kWh
of green power annually, equivalent to the CO2 emissions from
electricity use of more than 1.5 million average American
homes.
More information on the national top 50 list:
http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/top50.htm
Information on EPA’s Green Power Partnership:
http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/
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