U.S. retail giant Walmart has announced it will install solar panels on 60 more of its stores in California and its solar initiative has already saved the company a million dollars in electricity costs.
The initiative will see 75 percent of Walmart’s stores in the state hosting solar energy systems.
After this latest round of rooftop solar panels are installed, Walmart’s solar stores in California will collectively generate up to 70 million kilowatt hours of electricity a year, enough to provide the power needs of 5,400 homes.
The arrays will avoid the production of over 21,700 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions annually, the equivalent of taking approximately 4,100 cars off the road. Each store’s solar power system contributes 20 to 30 percent of the facility’s total electricity requirement.
“Our solar efforts in California have proven to be a great way for Walmart to build our renewable energy program,” stated Walmart’s Senior Manager of Renewable Energy, Mack Wyckoff. “We are confident that we will continue to grow our solar energy program in the U.S. and around the world because of the initial success we have had in California.”
The initiative is expected to create hundreds of jobs in California and will be carried out in partnership with SolarCity.
“Walmart is setting an example that far more companies in the U.S. can follow; it is possible for many businesses to pay less for solar power than they currently pay for electricity,” said Lyndon Rive, SolarCity’s CEO.
Walmart aims to be supplied by 100 percent renewable energy and to create zero waste. The company says it has eliminated more than 80% of the waste that would go to landfills from its operations in California and its waste reduction program is being rolled out nationwide.
Through working with its suppliers in relation to product packaging and other efficiency measures, the company has also made great strides in reducing transport related environmental impact. Last year, the company saw a 65% improvement in U.S. truck fleet efficiency when compared to its 2005 baseline, delivering 57 million more cases while driving 78.8 million fewer kilometers.
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