Topping the latest EPA Green Power Usage charts are Whole Foods and Starbucks.
For those of you not familiar with the term "Green Power", it's electricity that is partially or entirely generated from environmentally preferablerenewable energy sources. Products made with green power always contain a higher percentage of electricity from renewable energy sources than conventional electrical service. renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, biomass, biogas, and low-impact hydro.
Environmental Leader – Whole Foods Far and above, the biggest leader in the retail category (and second overall) is Whole Foods. In January, Whole Foods became the only Fortune 500 Company purchasing wind energy credits to offset 100% of its electricity use. Its purchase of 463,128 MWh of green power has the same environmental impact as removing 60,000 cars from the highways. In a “not too shabby” second place is Starbucks with 150,000 MWh of green power purchased.
Here’s an overview of the top 5 retail leaders, but click on the link to see the top 10 and top 25 overall.
Green Power Usage (MWh) | % of Total Electricity | Resources | Provider | 1. Whole Foods Market
| 463,128 | 100% | Biomass, Geothermal, Hydro, Solar, Wind | Austin Energy, Community Energy, PNM, Renewable Choice Energy, Sky Energy | 2. Starbucks
| 150,000 | 20% | Wind | 3 Phases | 3. Safeway, Inc.
| 87,000 | 2% | Wind | 3 Phases | 4. Staples
| 49,457 | 10% | Biogas, Biomass, Solar, Wind | Avista Utilities, Pacificorp, Portland General Electric, Sterling Planet, Tennessee Valley Authority | 5. Fedex Kinkos
| 40,600 | 15% | Various | Various |
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It should also be noted that government and educational centers are also fine examples of green power users. See the entire top 25 list of the EPA's partners.
by
Erin Swanson ESwanson@enviance.com |
