Williams Lake news. As it happens.

Walmart Canada is beginning its sixth annual reduced summer lighting program in nearly all of its stores nationwide. By reducing its sales floor lighting by one-third, summer-long, the company expects to help ease strain on provincial power grids and reduce summer smog conditions.

"As temperatures rise this summer, we're helping do our part for the environment and the stability of our power systems," said John Lawrence, director of corporate social responsibility at Walmart Canada. "Whether it's reducing lighting, using lower wattage light bulbs or building stores that are 30% more energy-efficient, Walmart's committed to being an energy-efficient business now and over the long-term."

Canadians can do their own part for the environment and keep their energy costs in check this summer with the following tips:

Turn it off: Save electricity and reduce waste heat by shutting off lights, even if it's only for a few minutes.

Replace lights: Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). CFLs use two-thirds less energy than traditional bulbs and produce 75 per cent less heat. (1)

Keep fixtures clean: Dirt can absorb as much as 50 per cent of the light from bulbs. (2)

Use task lighting: Rather than light the whole room, use task lighting as needed.

In addition to reducing its lighting during the summer months, Walmart Canada has changed nearly all of its 1.75 million light bulbs to lower wattage bulbs as replacements are needed. In 2009, the company began rolling out prototypical stores across Canada that are 30 per cent more energy-efficient than previous store prototypes. As part of its energy commitment, Walmart is also Canada's largest purchaser of renewable energy through Bullfrog Power.

The reduced summer lighting program was piloted in Walmart stores throughout Ontario in the summers of 2005 and 2006 in response to ongoing summer energy concerns in the province. Since then, Walmart Canada has reduced its lighting every year, summer-long across the country.

/CNW/

(1) ENERGY STAR http://bit.ly/bikOX4    

(2) Toronto Hydro http://bit.ly/9qpcoM

| More...