Best Buy Sets Target To Reduce Carbon Emissions Across U.S. Operations

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Best Buy Co., Inc. has announced plans to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 8 percent per square foot across all U.S. stores and operations, including its corporate headquarters, fleet, and distribution centers, by 2012.

Best Buy intends to measure emissions on a per square footage basis to account for improvement while maintaining company growth initiatives. A recent nationwide inventory indicated that U.S. operations and stores emit approximately 62 pounds of GHG annually per square foot. Electricity use represents 77 percent of the emissions, followed by heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) at 13 percent; gas for fleet and service vehicles at 5 percent, and diesel for fleet vehicles and natural gas at 2 percent each.

Best Buy has outlined specific steps designed to help reach its reduction target, including:

• New stores built with high efficiency lighting and HVAC systems, and skylights;
• Addition of skylights and upgrades of lighting and HVAC systems in existing stores and operations;
• Implementation of a no-idling policy nationwide for all fleet;
• Upgrades and networking of the centralized Energy Management System to better track energy spikes across stores and operations; and
• Tests of renewable energy sources, including solar panels on select stores.

"We're proud of the efforts we've made over the past decade to decrease our energy use," said Brian Dunn, president and COO, Best Buy Co., Inc. "And I'm even more proud of the employees and teams, across our stores and operations, who challenge us every day to make a bigger difference through better business practices. This commitment to reduce our emissions signals our willingness to invest in even more efficient operations today, which will save money over time and help us to meet the expectations of our customers, employees, and shareholders."

Best Buy recently announced its GHG initiative to Climate Leaders, an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) industry-government partnership that works to develop comprehensive climate change strategies for business. Together, the 226 corporate members of Climate Leaders represent more than 10 percent of the U.S. gross domestic product, and together have pledged GHG reductions equivalent to the emissions of nine million cars annually.

About Greener Together
Greener Together is a new way of thinking at Best Buy: make smarter decisions about technology, and consume less energy in the process. Through Greener Together, Best Buy will help customers choose electronics and appliances wisely and use them more efficiently, plus find easy ways to recycle, reuse, or trade in products at the end of their life. Additionally, the company will work together with employees, manufacturers and partners to reduce its own carbon footprint, while providing consumers with an increasing number of energy efficient and recyclable options, from components to packaging. With the creativity and know-how of the 165,000 Best Buy employees worldwide, we can make a positive impact on our lives, our business and our planet.

About Best Buy Co., Inc.
With operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, and China, Best Buy is a multinational retailer of technology and entertainment products and services with a commitment to growth and innovation. The Best Buy family of brands and partnerships collectively generates more than $40 billion annual revenue and includes brands such as Best Buy, Audiovisions, The Carphone Warehouse, Future Shop, Geek Squad, Jiangsu Five Star, Magnolia Audio Video, Pacific Sales Kitchen and Bath Centers, The Phone House and Speakeasy. Approximately 165,000 employees apply their talents to help bring the benefits of these brands to life for customers through retail locations, multiple call centers and Web sites, in-home solutions, product delivery and activities in our communities. Community partnership is central to the way we do business at Best Buy. In fiscal 2008, we donated a combined $31.8 million to improve the vitality of the communities where our employees and customers live and work. For more information about Best Buy, visit www.bestbuyinc.com.

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