Walmart is stocking up on clean power, LEDs, efficient HVAC and refrigeration systems, power purchase agreements, and building control systems.
To become 100% supplied by renewable energy by 2020, the company must:
- Drive the production or procurement of 7 billion kWh of renewable energy globally every year, a 600% increase over 2010 levels; and
- Reduce the kWh/square foot energy intensity required to power Walmart’s buildings globally by 20% compared to 2010 levels.
The two commitments will generate more than $1 billion annually in energy savings once fully implemented, roughly equivalent to eliminating the need for two U.S. fossil fuel plants.
Walmart’s portfolio currently consumes about 1.1 billion kWh of sustainable energy. Added to the renewable power the company receives from the grid, 21% of its buildings’ electricity and 17% of its total energy use is supplied by renewables.
In 2012 alone, the retailer added roughly 100 renewable energy projects, bringing the total number of installations to nearly 300. According to the Solar Energy Industry Association, Walmart has more solar power capacity and number of systems than any other company in America.
“When I look at the future, energy costs may grow twice as fast as our anticipated store and club growth,” notes Mike Duke, president and CEO. “The math adds up pretty quickly – when we use less energy, that’s less energy we have to buy, which creates less waste and more savings. Marrying renewables with energy efficiency is powerful.”
