FedEx Office tops EPA's green list

From today's Commercial Appeal...

FedEx Office tops EPA's green list
By Wayne Risher

The Environmental Protection Agency tapped FedEx Office on Monday as the nation's top printing company in use of electricity from eco-friendly sources.

The EPA Green Power Partnership ranked FedEx Office No. 1 on its first listing of the top 20 U.S. printing companies.

The company already appeared in other EPA green power rankings: 11th among the Top 20 Retail companies and 27th among Fortune 500 companies taking part in a corporate challenge.

Officials said FedEx Office buys more than 34 million kilowatt-hours of renewable energy certificates and utility green power products annually, equal to 14 percent of purchased electricity use.

The EPA said that is enough green power to electrify 3,000 homes a year.

While the Memphis-based company has invested heavily in solar power at some of its newer facilities, that's not practical at FedEx Office stores.

"As is the case with many retailers, we do not own the properties in which FedEx Office operates, limiting our ability to integrate on-site power generation systems, such as rooftop solar panels," FedEx Corp. director of environmental affairs and sustainability Mitch Jackson wrote in a post Monday on the .

"However, that restriction does not deter our efforts to use green power. How so? For years FedEx Office has combined the purchase of renewable energy credits (RECs) and utilities' green power to offset energy consumption," Jackson added.

The EPA considers green power as renewable electricity produced from solar, wind, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact, small hydroelectric resources.

Brian Philips, president and CEO, said, "FedEx Office is proud to know our ongoing commitment to sustainability and renewable resources has made us the No. 1 green power purchaser in the commercial printing industry."

FedEx Office also participates in EPA's Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge, which is pushing corporations to surpass 10 billion kilowatt-hours of green power by the end of this year. FedEx ranked 27th among 58 participating corporations.

FedEx Office has been on a Top 20 Retail list for 15 consecutive quarters.

-- Wayne Risher: 529-2874

EPA touts FedEx Office

No. 1 green power purchaser in commercial printing business

No. 11 on EPA's Top 20 Retail list, where company appears for 15th consecutive quarter

No. 27 among 58 companies participating in agency's Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge