**It’s Wal-Mart Day at EcoSherpa!! I had No idea Steve was writing a similar post!! Honest!**
I came across a very interesting article about Wal-Mart’s green initiatives in the LATimes today. Its a 3-pager, and definitely worth a read in my opinion. It talks about some of the green practices the retail giant has been testing out at two US locations (in Colorado and Texas), some of the struggles they’ve faced, as well as some of the opinions expressed by supporters and critics.
I have to admit I’m really impressed with their efforts so far. I know they are still falling short in many ways (environmentally and otherwise), but my tendency towards ‘glass-is-half-full’ thinking is simply getting the better of me in this case. How can you NOT see some potential for positive change when a company as large and influencial as Walmart takes such major steps. What better way to start educating a huge number of people, many of whom might otherwise have never given a flying fig about environmental issues.
Anyway, here are a few tidbits (link to full article given at end of post):
Wal-Mart’s sustainability efforts, unlike some of its other initiatives, also have won the company something more elusive: approval from critics and others not predisposed to Wal-Mart fandom.
A recent New York gala dinner hosted by movie producers Bob and Harvey Weinstein honored Wal-Mart Chief Executive H. Lee Scott Jr. for “his commitment to environmental sustainability.” Co-hosts included talk-show star Charlie Rose, NBC Universal CEO Bob Wright, MTV creator Robert Pittman and investment banker Steven Rattner.
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Not all the experiments are ready for export to other stores. Wind turbines have short-circuited. Wal-Mart is still monitoring the use of Using recycled cooking and motor oil in heating. And the wild-looking field of native prairie plantings, which require little water, is not an aesthetic all cities would appreciate.
But as the nation’s largest private purchaser of electricity, with an annual power bill of $1 billion, Wal-Mart says the successful experiments make the duds worthwhile.
In one test, Wal-Mart took items typically displayed in open cold cases — such as lunch meats, cheeses, biscuit dough and eggs — and put them in enclosed, freezer-like units, cutting that area’s energy bill 70%.
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Here is a list of some of the things they are testing out (and some of their findings):
Energy efficiency
• Light-emitting diodes used in exterior signs and in the store
• Evaporative cooling installed in the Colorado store uses water sprayed into the air stream to cool the air as it evaporates.
• A portion of the heating for the stores uses recovered cooking and motor oil. Heat recovered from the refrigeration racks also is used.
• New refrigeration display cases have doors that reduce air infiltration, reducing electricity demand.
Solar power
• Solar has not met expectations.
Wind power
• Wind turbines also have performed below expectations.
Water conservation
• Since April, the Texas store has used 85% less water for irrigation thanks to the use of native, drought-tolerant plants in landscaping and drip irrigation.
• Waterless urinals were installed in the men’s restrooms. The urinals were designed to save one to three gallons of water per use.
• Pervious pavement and/or concrete were used at both stores to assist with draining water from the parking lots. This pavement allows water to percolate through the pavement system and into the groundwater system.
Waste
• Spoiled items from the produce, deli, meat and dairy departments are sent out for composting. The compost is then sold at Wal-Mart’s stores.
Building materials
• Recycled pavement was used, including some from the demolition of Stapleton International Airport.
• Ternary concrete was used. This material mixes traditional concrete with industrial byproducts including fly ash (results from burning coal for electricity) and slag (a byproduct of steel manufacturing).
• Recycled rubber sidewalks are warping and fading in the sun.
• Countertops were made with recycled glass and concrete. Bamboo was made into woodwork and flooring. While the flooring is holding up well, the cabinets and fixtures are not.
Source: Wal-Mart Stores
I really appreciate the fact that they are being honest about what’s working and what is not.
There was another interesting paragraph that mentioned them actually providing educational tours for representatives from other big box stores (such as Target and Costco). Pretty cool! Hopefully they will inspire some others to start taking similar steps.
Anyway I highly recommend you check out the full article: Wal-Mart goes ‘green’
Technorati Tags: walmart, solar, wind power, sustainable, energy, green business, green construction
Written by Bentley on November 13th, 2006 with no comments.
Read more articles on Uncategorized.
When we first started EcoSherpa, one of the first articles to appear on the site was about Wal-Mart and their eco-initiatives. It appears that Wal-Mart is coming through with some of their promises. Peter Love, Ontario’s first Chief Energy Conservation Officer, awarded his prestigious Certificate of Recognition to Mario Pilozzi, President and CEO of Wal-Mart Canada Corp. today, for the company’s outstanding corporate contribution to energy efficiency and electricity conservation. The company received accolades for saving electricity and reducing greenhouse gas emission.
Wal-Mart’s Initiatives:
Centralized control of heating, ventilation, air conditioning (HVAC) and lighting systems, coupled with high-efficiency equipment, produced results that are 20 per cent to 30 per cent more energy-efficient than the Canadian average for non-food retail outlets.
A “two-thirds” lighting program in 2006, during which the company reduced in-store lighting in Ontario stores by 33 per cent, resulted in Wal-Mart reducing its electricity consumption by 6,000 Mega-Watt hours (MWh), enough to power 500 homes for one
year.
Other Initiatives:
• Wal-Mart has purchased almost 14,000 MWh of Green Power in British Columbia, since 2005, equivalent 25 per cent of the company’s provincial consumption.
• 2006 Wal-Mart expanded its Green Power purchasing program to Ontario, signing a three-year commitment with Bullfrog Power to purchase 39,000 MWh of renewably generated energy, offsetting almost 12,000 tons of CO(2). This remains the province’s largest-ever commercial purchase of Green Power.
• Wal-Mart has also been an active participant in the “Every Kilowatt Counts” campaigns, selling hundreds of thousands of compact fluorescent light bulbs
It is great to see Wal-Mart keeping their eco-promises. I hope Wal-Mart’s successful eco initiatives will encourage other “big box” retailers to adopt sustainable practices.
To learn about the Conservation Bureau, visit their website.
To read press release go here.
Technorati Tags: eco award, Wal-Mart, energy saving, earth friendly, Ontario Conservation Bureau
Written by steve on November 13th, 2006 with no comments.
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Not sure where to fill up your biodiesel enabled vehicle? A new service has been launched to help you find the nearest biodiesel fueling station. Mobile application innovator WHDC LLC launched a free service designed to enable cell phone users to easily find a biodiesel fueling station.
The service, NearBio will allow users to find (using their cell phones) the nearest biodiesel fueling locations based on city, zip code, or GPS coordinates. Currently the database has over 1000 verified locations and is updated daily. On the website you will find driving directions, hours, payment options, and blend information (where available) for each service.
Here’s a blurb from the website:
NearBio is a FREE service that combines the most comprehensive, verified list of US biodiesel retail locations and driving directions with easy access from your cell phone! From anywhere on the road, instantly find the five nearest biodiesel fueling locations. All you need is a city and state, or zip code, or GPS coordinates. You’ll receive distance, directions, address, phone number, blends and facility details (when available).
NearBio is committed to providing you accurate biodiesel fueling locations, updated on a daily basis. Information can be easily accessed at NearBio.com in any of 3 ways: your computer (see map below), your cell phone with Internet access (go to nearbio.com), or your cellphone with text messaging.
The website is also provides daily biodiesel news feeds and can be delivered via email to subscribers.
Technorati Tags: biodiesel, Nearbio, cell phone information, biodiesel fueling stations
Written by steve on November 13th, 2006 with no comments.
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Ok, so the goat picture is just a joke!
Just read a really interesting article at VenturaCountyStar.com about a ‘hot organic foam’ that can be used in place of weed killers like Roundup.
Apparently the machine that creates said foam costs $26,000 and was made by Waipuna, a company from New Zealand.
Here’s a blurb from the article:
The foam solution contains natural plant sugar extracts from corn and coconut heated to 210 degrees. The fully biodegradeable, slightly sticky foam is sprayed on weeds and plant beds through a contraption that looks like a vacuum cleaner.
The quirky but effective system is the latest eco-friendly tool in the city’s approach to pest control: It uses biological, cultural and mechanical methods first — and chemicals only as a last resort.
As is often the case, there do seem to be some trade-offs when it comes to using the eco-friendly weed killer - this approach can take longer, and potentially costs more (the article mentions more monitoring being required). On the upside however, the foam can be sprayed on windy days or even in a light drizzle since there it is non toxic. For the same reason, there is no need to post hazard signs and no extra concern needed for children or animals in the area.
Sounds like a cool solution to me!
Here is a link to the full article: An eco-friendly weed whacker
Technorati Tags: weed killer, roundup, herbicide, waipuna, ventura, landscaping, earth friendly, weed whacker, weed whipper
Written by Bentley on November 13th, 2006 with 2 comments.
Read more articles on Gardening.
