Environmental Leader

Half Price Books, a new and used bookstore chain in Texas, has signed a three-year contract with Green Mountain Energy Company to supply wind energy for 30 retail stores and other facilities in the state.

The Dallas-based bookstore chain is purchasing about 11.3 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of wind power annually from the renewable energy provider.  The purchase for 30 Texas retail stores, several distribution centers and other facilities including the corporate office in Dallas is equivalent to the amount of energy required to power 100 percent of these Texas facilities. In addition to wind power, Green Mountain Energy Company also offers a choice of carbon offset products through its BeGreen division.

By purchasing 11.3 million kWh of wind power, Half Price Books will offset an estimated 15 million pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2). That is the equivalent of planting 901,000 trees or recycling 6 million pounds of newspaper, says the company. Half Price Books has been recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as an EPA Green Power Partner for its leading green power purchase.

Another Texas retailer that recently purchased wind power is Wal-Mart, which signed a four-year agreement with Duke Energy to supply up to 15 percent of the retailer’s total energy needs for about 360 Texas stores and other facilities using wind energy.

Retailers are starting to step up their green and energy-efficient programs by converting to solar power, adding wind turbines and installing energy-efficient systems, which in turn helps them lower their operating costs.