Staples
At a Glance
Industry
Retail and Apparel
Project Type
Commercial Energy Efficiency
Year
2010
Location
Framingham, MA
Summary
Tom Fisher provided both short and long term solutions to assist Staples in pushing forward towards its sustainability goals.
Goals
Tom Fisher spent his summer immersed in data centers as a Climate Corps fellow at Staples in Framingham, MA. Staples brought him in to help identify cost and energy efficiency solutions that would affect the triple bottom line.
Solutions
Fisher conducted a gap analysis under Staples' VP of Environmental Affairs determining short and long-term energy efficiency and strategic opportunities for two data centers in the Boston-metro area. Short-term recommendations included optimization strategies and proposals for capital improvements to facilities to create significant savings in kWh, operating budget and carbon footprint. Qualitative recommendations for improvements that would further push along energy efficiency initiatives with increased funding, reduce energy use, increase interdepartmental collaboration and create frameworks to empower employees to make informed decisions within the existing facilities were also given. Long-term strategies included two scenario planning recommendations around shuttering existing operations in one of the facilities and pursuing solutions that currently rank as best-in-class in the industry for energy efficiency.
Potential Impact
Fisher concluded that, should all of the proposed recommendations be implemented, Staples could cut annual energy costs by approximately $395,870, reduce 2,839,467 kWh of electricity and eliminate 2,038 metric tons of corresponding CO2 emissions.
Where is he now?
Fisher is now a Sustainability Analyst at Salesforce.