Page 10 Climate change


Energy use
John Lewis used 175 million kWh of gas and electricity last year, at a cost of over £15 million, and although energy efficiency has improved (see chart, right), more shops and longer trading hours mean our total energy use continues to rise. We are aiming to improve the efficiency of all our shops and offices by 20% by 2010 (relative to 2003/04) through a lighting replacement programme, efficient equipment, new controls and by using technology to adjust ventilation to suit occupancy levels.

Working with the Carbon Trust, a Government-funded organisation that helps companies to improve energy efficiency, reduce emissions and develop commercially viable low-carbon technologies, we have distributed a new Energy Awareness Manual, Saving Carbon and Cutting Costs, to all shops. The publication features '10 ways to save', from switching off display and sales floor lighting outside trading hours to closing external doors in warehouses. Shops also receive monthly energy reports that enable them to monitor progress against targets, identify problems quickly and share best practice.

(Boxed out caption: 15% Reduction in energy consumption per square foot of trading floor area since 2003/04)

John Lewis carbon footprint

(Pie chart of energy usage showing:
Electricity 65.3%
Gas 16.5%
Distribution 14.1%
Waste and waste collection 2.9%
Business miles in company cars 0.7%
Air 0.5%)
(Horizontal bar chart showing kilowatt hours per square foot floor space for the following years:
2003/04 61.7
2004/05 52.9
2005/061 53.7
2006/072 52.4
2007/08 52.5

1 2005/06 figure has been recalculated to include additional data for two John Lewis shops.
2 To reflect energy use during normal trading activity, 1GWh has been deducted from the 2006/07 figure to allow for the significant overnight energy usage for the Oxford Street refurbishment.)


Alternative energy
Improving our energy efficiency will reduce, but not avoid, CO2 emissions, and we believe that renewable energy will provide a sustainable, long-term alternative to fossil fuels. Since October 2007, 100% of the Partnership's electricity (up from 40% in 2006/07) has been derived from green sources through EDF Energy.

Through long-term agreements with a range of suppliers, EDF ensures enough green energy is fed into the National Grid to meet the needs of companies wanting to purchase it, including the Partnership. We purchase energy derived from hydroelectric generation, biomass, landfill gas, energy from waste, certified combined heat and power (CHP) plants, and wind farms, but not from nuclear power. Although securing green power contracts for the future remains a challenge, we are committed to doing so.