As many businesses North of the border consider the actions they will take to meet Canadas Kyoto Protocol targets, Mountain Equipment Co-op (MEC) and the Pembina Institute released details of the significant reduction in greenhouse gas emissions that MEC has achieved through the purchase of wind power certificates for its Calgary and Edmonton store operations.
MECs purchase of wind power certificates from the Wind Power by Pembina Program offsets
approximately 50% of the electricity-generated greenhouse gas emissions produced by the two
stores.
“Greening our operations – through energy-efficient buildings, waste reduction and now wind power
purchases – is a key element in MECs commitment to environmental leadership,” said CEO Peter
Robinson. “Purchasing wind power is especially important in Alberta because our stores here produce
significant greenhouse gases due to the predominance of coal-based electricity in the province.”
Together, MECs Edmonton and Calgary stores will consume an estimated 1,140 megawatt hours
(MWh) of electricity in 2005. Their wind power purchase will displace 570 MWh of conventionally
produced electricity and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 583 tonnes.
“We are excited to see the wind power program taking off. Leading-edge businesses like MEC really
set the example for others to follow,” said Marlo Raynolds, Executive Director for the Pembina Institute.
“MECs support of the Pembina Institutes wind power program also helps us advance some of our
other projects aimed at advancing sustainable energy systems in Canada,” Raynolds added.
By reducing the greenhouse gas emissions of their Calgary and Edmontons stores by half, MEC will
reduce its overall company greenhouse gas emissions by almost 24 per cent. The reduction stems from
the fact that MECs facilities, which include three Natural Resource Canada C2000-certified green
buildings, are already 47 per cent less greenhouse gas intensive than most other Canadian retail
facilities.
