The value of implementing sustainability practices in our own business is realized in many ways. We generate cost savings from internal efficiencies; create a culture of understanding and responsibility for sustainable actions; build knowledge and expertise; and, most importantly, lead by example, adopting many of the programs and solutions that we recommend to our customers.
In 2010, Grand & Toy implemented some innovative new projects that helped us be better for the environment, and we expanded existing programs that have delivered measurable results for our business and our customers.
Our Information Technology department contributed to energy reduction during the year with a server virtualization project that eliminated nearly 120 machines and moved them to a virtual operating environment of only 10 physical servers. Virtualizing these servers represents an energy savings of 794,279 kWh, equivalent to planting 2,400 trees or taking 85 cars off the road.1
In our Vaughan Customer Fulfillment Centre (CFC) and Sales Office, bright lights represented the single largest electricity consumption in the Company. The main lighting system in the Customer Fulfillment Centre was old, inefficient, and consumed 30% of the total energy demand in the location. A solution to reduce electricity consumption by replacing the old light fixtures with high efficiency lighting was initiated late last year and will result in a 60% reduction in electricity demand from the CFC lighting system, lower energy costs, improved lighting conditions for Associates and over 500,000 kWh of electricity conserved each year.
Grand & Toy Associates regularly advise our customers on the benefits of choosing environmentally preferable office products and moving to more sustainable business processes, such as E-invoicing. By following our own advice, in 2010, we increased the percentage of environmentally preferable products we purchase for our own needs to 22.5% of our total spend on internal office supplies.
1Calculations are based on the power consumption of a standard 2 CPU server.