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Best Buy Looks to Reduce GHGs While Doubling Revenue

Best Buy plans to reduce emissions 8 percent per square foot by 2012 in a bid to cut its environmental impacts without sacrificing future growth.

Best Buy plans to reduce emissions 8 percent per square foot by 2012 in a bid to cut its environmental impacts without sacrificing future growth.

The company currently produces about 62 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per square foot, the vast majority of which stems from electricity use. As it transitions to more efficient operations with a softer environmental footprint, the company also has an eye toward doubling revenue in five years.

"We have broader aspirations for this company and this is a step in that direction," Spokeswoman Kelly Groehler told ClimateBiz.com Tuesday.

To tackle the company's environmental aspirations, it branded a philosophy that has taken shape at the company over the years. "Greener Together" taps its supply chain, employees and customers to reduce impacts throughout the business.

"It's the notion that we've got to look at how we're making decisions across Best Buy ... As a consumer, how do we help provide you with better information about the energy you use, or the products you recycle?" Groehler said. "How do we also look at operations and make sure we're being mindful of the environment?"

It isn't the first time that a company have sought to reduce emissions without crippling expansion. For instance, United Kingdom-based BT grappled with various metrics, such as measuring emissions per worker or unit of turnover. Eventually it decided to link emissions to financial performance.

In order to cut down energy consumption at its stores, Best Buy will include high efficiency lighting, HVAC systems and skylights in new locations, and add these features to existing stores. Its fleet will implement a no-idling policy. It also will take advantage of centralized energy management systems to track energy hot spots.

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