LONDON: Multinational clothing retail company, H&M, and US-based LED lighting manufacturer, Cree, have become the latest members of EP100, committing to bold energy productivity improvements.
The announcement was made today at the 2017 Energy Efficiency Global Forum (EE Global) in Washington D.C., where global leaders from business, government, and leading NGOs gathered to assess the future of energy efficiency.
The EP100 initiative, run by The Climate Group in partnership with the Alliance to Save Energy, showcases the world’s most influential businesses committed to ambitious energy productivity targets and now includes 12 companies.
Jenny Chu, Head of Energy Productivity Initiatives, The Climate Group, said: “H&M and Cree have been taking bold steps on energy productivity and we are delighted to welcome them to EP100 and showcase their ambitions to link smarter energy use with business growth objectives.
“We know that business accounts for about half of the electricity used worldwide, and by focusing on energy productivity outcomes, companies like H&M and Cree demonstrate that corporates can reduce their own energy demand, improve their bottom lines and contribute to hitting the targets of the Paris Agreement.”
Sweden-based H&M has become the first international fashion retailer to join EP100 since its launch in May 2016, and joins other major leading businesses such as Johnson Controls, Swiss Re, Danfoss and Dalmia Cement.
Cree, a market-leader in energy efficient lighting, becomes the second LED manufacturer to join the initiative after Chinese company Hongbo.
“I am beyond pleased to welcome two new companies to EP100 on the first anniversary of the program." said Kateri Callahan, President, Alliance to Save Energy. "EP100 is a unique chance for companies to demonstrate the business case for clean energy through the adoption of the ambitious goal of doubling energy productivity. Leading by example, H&M, Cree and all other EP100 companies are helping us build a stronger economy and a healthier, more prosperous world through the deployment of the efficient technologies and practices we know create jobs and improve the environment.”
A clear business case
On joining the campaign, Pierre Borjesson, Global Sustainability Business Expert, H&M said: “‘Using less energy and increasing our economic output is a fundamental part of our strategy.
“We have long been working to reduce our climate impact and recently launched our new commitment to achieve a climate positive value chain by 2040. This means H&M will support reductions of greenhouse gases to a larger extent than what our value chain emits. Two of our key priorities are leadership in energy productivity and using renewable energy throughout the value chain.”
By 2030 at the latest, H&M is planning to build future stores using 40% less energy per square meter, compared to those constructed today. Within its stores, the retailer aims to invest in new technologies for lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems to improve its operational energy productivity. Additionally, H&M aims to have 100% of its supplier partners enrolled in an energy efficiency program by 2025, as well as reduce the energy used in its logistics transport and warehouses. H&M is also a member of The Climate Group’s RE100 initiative, which brings together the world's most influential companies committed to 100% renewable power.
Cree has been a leader on energy efficiency and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reduction in recent year, joining the “Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR” campaign in 2010. As part of the campaign, Cree has saved over 1,000,000 lbs of GHG emissions from 2015 to 2016, and over 200,000 lbs of GHGs from 2016 to 2017.
Greg Merritt, Vice President, Marketing and Public Affairs, Cree said: “Joining EP100 is a natural for us, as improving energy productivity is the essence of what we do at Cree. Our constant innovations in LEDs, LED lighting and other Cree technologies enable people to do more and consume less.”
Energy productivity improvements could generate an additional US$18 trillion in global GDP until 2035 and reduce the cost of related decarbonization efforts by up to US$2.8 trillion.
Supporting the Paris Agreement
A new report from the Energy Transitions Commission indicates that a 3% annual improvement in average global energy productivity through to 2050 is required to limit global temperature rises to below 2 degrees Celsius – the target mapped out in the historic Paris Climate Agreement in 2015.
According to a 2015 report from Ecofys, doubling energy productivity globally could also cut the global fossil fuel bill by an estimated US$2.3 trillion and could create more than 6 million jobs by 2020.