Energy Conservation at MEC

As a company that sells outdoor gear, our success is tied to a healthy natural environment.

The Issue

Climate change is one of the most important environmental issues facing the planet. Today's atmosphere contains 40% more carbon dioxide than at the start of the industrial era.

By 2012, we intend to achieve a 30% absolute reduction in emissions in our existing buildings, from 2007 levels.

Burning fossil fuels (coal, oil, and gas) is largely responsible for the changes seen in our climate. For Canadians, long-term changes mean more intense heat and cold, ice storms, floods, droughts, and other extreme weather events.

What We're Doing

MEC is committed to reducing energy consumption. Our goal is to conduct business in a manner that maximizes energy efficiency and the use of green and renewable energy sources, and minimizes emissions and other impacts harmful to human health and the environment. We're working with areas where we have the most control, our facilities and transportation.

Green Buildings

For years, MEC has been making award-winning green buildings for our stores and other operations. We've done this through making design, materials, and construction decisions based on environmental considerations. But no matter how energy-efficient our buildings are, they all use some power. So in addition to building them green, we're working to run them green. One way to do this is to purchase renewable energy certificates (RECs) for power that emits fewer greenhouse gases than on-grid energy sources. We buy wind power for our Alberta stores and RECs for our Victoria store. We've switched to 100% biodiesel fuel in Halifax store. And our Toronto store receives some of its power and heat from a rooftop solar-electric and thermal generating system.

Learn more about MEC's green buildings program.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions Tracking

Many businesses have a carbon-neutral target for their operations, and invest in offsets. Yet we know that ultimately, our planet needs global reductions, and doesn't care which business or product the GHG emissions come from. By 2012, we intend to achieve a 30% absolute reduction in emissions in our existing buildings (excluding new stores) from 2007 levels. For all buildings we aim to decrease our intensity by 30% from 2007 levels. That would be a change from 1.7 to 1.2 tCO2e (tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions) per 1,000 square feet. We plan to reduce our GHG emissions by a combination of using more efficient technology, and switching to energy alternatives.

Melting Mountains Initiative

The Melting Mountains Awareness Program was developed as a result of concerns that climate change will have a substantial impact on our recreational opportunities and mountain lifestyle. Today, Melting Mountains is a unique partnership between the Alpine Club of Canada, the David Suzuki Foundation, the Government of Canada, and Mountain Equipment Co-op.

Where you can learn more

The Pembina Institute

Climate Change Central

Natural Resources Canada

NRC - Office of Energy Efficiency

David Suzuki Foundation

Resources

Kyoto and Beyond: The Low Emission Path to Innovation and Efficiency (585 Kb) 

Pollution Probe Case Study: Mountain Equipment Co-op's Green Building Approach (242 Kb)