Posts tagged ‘eco’
Justin Timberlake at Shareholders
Justin Timberlake celebrated with Walmart today at our annual shareholders’ meeting. An advocate for the environment himself, he introduced a video by President Bill Clinton that highlighted Walmart’s commitment to renewable energy, creating zero waste and selling products that sustain people and the environment. We in The Green Room are big fans of JT’s environmental commitment. (And he looked great in a hula skirt, too.)
June 1, 2012 Walmart Green Room Leave a comment
Drive down your gas costs this Memorial Day weekend
Did you know that your GPS device and certain smartphone apps can give you real-time gas mileage tips, and point you to the cheapest nearby gas station? How about the fact that every extra pound of luggage decreases your fuel economy, as does driving faster than 60 miles per hour? Learn these gas-saving secrets and more from this video, as well as six other videos on fuel efficiency from the Alliance to Save Energy.
Here are a few more tips:
- Avoid aggressive driving. Speeding, rapid acceleration and rapid braking can lower gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds and by 5% around town, according to the Alliance to Save Energy.
- Avoid excessive idling. Idling can waste a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour, depending on engine size and air conditioner use. But it only takes a few seconds’ worth of fuel to restart your engine, according to the U.S. Department of Energy.
- Combine errands into one trip. Several short trips taken from a cold start can use twice as much fuel as a multipurpose trip covering the same distance when the engine is warm.
- Beat the traffic. When possible, drive during off-peak hours to avoid stop-and-go or bumper-to-bumper traffic conditions, thereby reducing gas costs, time and stress.
- Keep tires inflated. Properly inflated tires can improve mileage by up to 3.3%. Conversely, under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by 0.3% for every 1 psi drop in pressure in all four tires. In addition, proper inflation improves tire longevity and driving safety. Find the proper tire pressure for your vehicle on a sticker on the driver’s side door jamb, in the glove box, and/or in your owner’s manual.
This chart shows how much you can save from each fuel efficiency tip. These suggestions can also improve your driving, increase the life of your tires, and help you beat traffic.
|
FUEL EFFICIENCY TIPS |
MPG INCREASE | ANNUAL SAVINGS |
| Smart Driving | ||
| Avoid aggressive driving | up to 33% | $981 |
| Drive safe (highway) | up to 10% | $218 |
| Lose 100 pounds from trunk | up to 2% | $40 |
| Car Maintenance | ||
| Tune up vehicle | up to 4% | $82 |
| Fix oxygen sensor | up to 40% | $1,308 |
| Keep tires inflated | up to 3% | $61 |
| Use recommended oil | up to 2% | $40 |
| Fuel Efficient Car | Switching from 20 MPG to 30 MPG vehicle |
$930 in fuel costs* |
| The MPG increases and dollar savings are estimated for each tip based on data from 2011 Transportation Energy Data Book and U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) assuming vehicle fuel economy as 21.2MPG, average national gas price as $3.69/gallon, and annual 11,300 miles of travel. Actual results depend on how well you already follow these practices, whether you use more than one tip at a time, and other factors. *Sources: Alliance to Save Energy research and Department of Energy |
||
May 24, 2012 Miriam Berg Leave a comment
Changes in plastic packaging help put a lid on GHGs
The uses for plastic are many. And often, so are the questions about recycling it.
There are seven different codes that indicate the resin content of post-consumer plastics, which determines whether it is collected for recycling in a particular locality.
Last year, a Walmart Canada team identified not only a way to make the process easier for everyone – but also a way to reduce the 5.85 billion pounds of plastic being added to landfills across North America annually, according to the National Association for PET Container Resources. Continue reading
May 22, 2012 Leon Hall Leave a comment
Expanding solar power in Massachusetts
Solar panels on the Walmart in Foothill Ranch, California
Solar power is one of several steps we’re taking toward our big goal of being supplied 100 percent by renewable energy. Earlier this year, we had 115 rooftop solar installations in seven countries. And yesterday, the Boston Globe reported that Walmart will install solar panels on top of 27 Massachusetts stores. That’s enough to power 2,600 homes, according to the story, which you can read here.
May 16, 2012 Walmart Green Room 1 comment
Rethink, rearrange, reduce
A large part of sustainability is re-examining details. Here’s another example of how a simple adjustment can make a big difference.
May 11, 2012 Walmart Green Room Leave a comment
How one African company is thinking about the environment
African company Tiger Brands, a Massmart supplier, began using a biodegradable bag for all varieties of its Albany sliced bread in 2010. Massmart represents 14 to 18 percent of Tiger Brands’ business.
Last weekend, I spent nearly 24 hours on a plane, traveling almost 9,000 miles for a business trip to a country where I don’t do business. Continue reading
May 10, 2012 Luigi Ferrini Leave a comment
In trucking, the road to efficiency is continuous
Walmart is continuously working to improve its trucking fleet through technologies like this hybrid assist truck. Since 2007, the Walmart fleet has delivered 361 million more cases while driving 287 million fewer miles.
Delivering more while driving less: It’s a simple idea, but bringing it to life can be a bit complicated. Continue reading
May 3, 2012 Elizabeth Fretheim Leave a comment
Bringing solar-powered stores to Colorado
Solar panel installation in the snow on the roof of a Lafayette, Colo., Walmart.
Trivia question: What state provided the inspiration for the song, “America the Beautiful”?
Answer: Colorado.
The Centennial State’s “beautiful, for spacious skies” are now being protected by six new solar projects constructed by SolarCity in partnership with Walmart
These solar-powered stores are expected to generate 3 million kilowatt-hours of clean, renewable energy each year, which is enough to power more than 225 homes, according to the EPA calculator. Continue reading
April 11, 2012 Toby Corey 7 comments
Is Walmart more hype than reality?
Solar panels on a Walmart in Marina, Calif.
Michelle Mauthe Harvey of the Environmental Defense Fund tackles a good subject today in GreenBiz. Are we at Walmart meeting our sustainability goals, or are we guilty of actually hyping empty efforts? Continue reading
March 30, 2012 Walmart Green Room Leave a comment
Carbon counting time
Wind power at Sam’s Club in Palmdale, Calif.
It’s that time of year again. With video conferencing technology, we’ve just met with our global peers and counterparts in Energy, Construction and Maintenance from all our markets around the world to kick off our annual greenhouse gas (GHG) data gathering process. Continue reading
March 20, 2012 Greg Trimble Leave a comment
