Liz Claiborne Inc. made the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) list of Top 10 Retail Green Power Partners. Liz Claiborne Inc. is being recognized for its voluntary purchase of 25,000 megawatt-hours of green power to cover 100% of the electricity used at its corporate headquarters in New Jersey.
The EPA released the list of the nation's Top 10 retail green power purchasers this week. This is the first time that the EPA has compiled a list of the Top 10 retailers in the Green Power Partnership.
This Top 10 list highlights retailers within the Green Power Partnership that have completed the largest annual voluntary green power purchases through Jan. 18, 2006. “Green power” is defined by the Partnership as electricity products that are partially or entirely generated from environmentally preferable resources, such as solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, and low-impact biomass and hydro resources. These renewable energy sources are cleaner than traditional sources of electricity that produce carbon dioxide (CO2), a greenhouse gas linked to global climate change. Green power purchases support the development of new renewable energy capacity.
“We are proud to be recognized on the EPA's Top 10 list of retail green power purchasers. This is a huge honor,” said Paul R. Charron, chairman and CEO of Liz Claiborne Inc. “Our green power purchase demonstrates our commitment to sustainability and is consistent with Liz Claiborne Inc.'s socially conscious business practices.”
Liz Claiborne Inc. has elected to offset specific electricity usage through the purchase of equivalent Green-e certified tradable renewable energy certificates. These specific RECs represent the environmental benefits of clean wind power energy production as replacement for other non-renewable energy sources from regional and national electric grids. The RECs are purchased through 3 Phases Energy Services, a Green-e certified wind power provider. By purchasing these RECs, Liz Claiborne Inc. is investing in the future of wind power, helping construct new wind farms and bolstering existing farms to create a wider base for future wind power production.
This purchase is the first time that Liz Claiborne Inc. has made a significant investment in the use of green power. The Company was introduced to the Green Power Partnership through its acquisition of prAna. PrAna launched its Natural Power Initiative in the Fall of 2005, offsetting the power of 250 of its retailers, 100 percent of its headquarters and all of the homes of its full-time employees. For 2006, this alone is estimated to offset approximately 16,500 megawatt hours. PrAna plans to eventually offset 100 percent of the electricity from its entire North American dealer base of approximately 1,000 retail partners as well as its contracted U.S.-based sewing facilities to deliver clothing made with certified Green-e, wind-generated power
“The EPA applauds Liz Claiborne Inc. for being among the largest retail purchasers of green power,” said Blaine Collision, program director of the EPA's Green Power Partnership. “Liz Claiborne Inc. is leading by example and setting a standard for environmental leadership for its peer institutions.”
