Commercial, Demand Management, Energy Efficiency  -  May 10, 2017

H&M, Cree join 10 companies committed to EP100

Multinational clothing retail company H&M and U.S.-based LED lighting manufacturer Cree have become the latest members of EP100, committing to bold energy productivity improvements.

The EP100 initiative, run by The Climate Group in partnership with the Alliance to Save Energy, was modeled after the success of the RE100 initiative through which some of the world's largest corporations have committed to running on 100% renewable energy. The energy productivity version of that initiative, according to its organizers, "showcases the world's most influential businesses committed to ambitious energy productivity targets," and now includes 12 companies. 

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, according to a May 8 announcement from The Climate Group. Cree, a market-leader in energy efficient lighting, is the second LED manufacturer to join the initiative, following Chinese company Hongbo.

H&M Global Sustainability Business Expert Pierre Borjesson said in a statement that using less energy and increasing economic output is a fundamental part of H&M's corporate strategy, adding that leadership in energy productivity and renewable energy use are two key priorities. The company is also an RE100 member. 

"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," Borjesson said. "This means H&M will support reductions of greenhouse gases to a larger extent than what our value chain emits." 

H&M is planning to build future stores using 40% less energy per square meter by 2030 compared to those constructed today. Within its stores, the retailer aims to invest in new technologies for lighting, heating, ventilation and air conditioning or 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. 

Cree has been actively working on energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions reduction in recent years, joining a U.S. EPA Energy Star campaign in 2010, according to the May 8 announcement. As part of that campaign, Cree has saved more than 1,000,000 pounds of GHG emissions from 2015 to 2016, and over 200,000 pounds of GHGs from 2016 to 2017.

According to The Climate Group, energy productivity improvements could generate an additional $18 trillion in global GDP until 2035 and reduce the cost of related decarbonization efforts by up to $2.8 trillion. 

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