Wal-Mart Joins Clinton Climate Initiative in Green Partnership
BENTONVILLE, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. here and the Clinton Climate Initiative said yesterday they are joining forces to help bring environmentally-friendly technologies to cities around the world. The two organizations will explore ways to use their purchasing resources to lower prices on sustainable technologies, such as energy-efficient building materials and systems, energy efficient lighting, and clean energy products.
Former President Bill Clinton announced the partnership at the United States Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Summit held in Seattle.
Clinton said the Clinton Climate Initiative will extend its programs and purchasing consortium to all 1,100 cities represented by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. The consortium includes the C40 Climate Leadership Group, representing 40 of the world's largest cities.
"This shows what can be achieved when business, government, and the non-profit sector work together on some of the biggest challenges facing the world today," said Lee Scott, president and c.e.o. of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., in a statement. "By combining our resources, we can help drive innovation, create new technology markets, and ultimately reduce this country's dependence on foreign oil."
As part of the partnership the two organizations will:
-- Collaborate regarding the design and discovery of new products and best practices related to environmentally-friendly technologies.
-- Work together to source new products, again sharing specifications as well as suppliers. This also includes going to market at coordinated times in order to maximize purchasing power and drive down costs.
-- Designate a representative from each organization to coordinate with Wal-Mart's building team, the Clinton Climate Initiative, and its member cities.
One of the technologies the partnership will explore is energy-efficient, high-performance LED lights for parking lots and street lamps. By switching to LEDs, Wal-Mart estimated that cities could save 50 percent on street lamp energy consumption and reduce maintenance costs by 80 percent. Additional technologies to be explored may include interior LED lighting, variable-speed heating ventilation and air conditioning technology (HVAC), and solar power purchases.
Former President Bill Clinton announced the partnership at the United States Conference of Mayors Climate Protection Summit held in Seattle.
Clinton said the Clinton Climate Initiative will extend its programs and purchasing consortium to all 1,100 cities represented by the U.S. Conference of Mayors. The consortium includes the C40 Climate Leadership Group, representing 40 of the world's largest cities.
"This shows what can be achieved when business, government, and the non-profit sector work together on some of the biggest challenges facing the world today," said Lee Scott, president and c.e.o. of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., in a statement. "By combining our resources, we can help drive innovation, create new technology markets, and ultimately reduce this country's dependence on foreign oil."
As part of the partnership the two organizations will:
-- Collaborate regarding the design and discovery of new products and best practices related to environmentally-friendly technologies.
-- Work together to source new products, again sharing specifications as well as suppliers. This also includes going to market at coordinated times in order to maximize purchasing power and drive down costs.
-- Designate a representative from each organization to coordinate with Wal-Mart's building team, the Clinton Climate Initiative, and its member cities.
One of the technologies the partnership will explore is energy-efficient, high-performance LED lights for parking lots and street lamps. By switching to LEDs, Wal-Mart estimated that cities could save 50 percent on street lamp energy consumption and reduce maintenance costs by 80 percent. Additional technologies to be explored may include interior LED lighting, variable-speed heating ventilation and air conditioning technology (HVAC), and solar power purchases.