thanks Timberland for helping NHBSR spread the word about this great event! For those that want to network with like minded business leaders around CSR & Sustainability – this is the place!

This really helped. Thanks for sharing.

First let me say I’m a big fan of what Timberland is doing! I zeroed in on your comment about the progress you are making in retail store energy efficiency. I’ve observed that this is an area where companies are being a little cautious – seeing a tradeoff between branding in stores and efficiency in energy or other resources. Have you cracked the code on this? What’s your secret??

Great question Michael. We had to do quite a bit of testing before we made the switch to technologies that were more energy-efficient. The concern was that our “boot sparkle” (yes – that is a technical term around here that is taken very seriously !) would decline with more energy-efficient lighting. Also, some of the LED light bulb manufacturers wouldn’t provide a long-term warrantee for their products’ performance. The good news was that piloting in a couple of stores (including our store at our HQ) allowed us to demonstrate to that we not only could achieve compelling cost savings, but better “boot sparkle” as well. The light quality had a more comforting vs. blaring feel that our employees preferred. Our suppliers worked with us to improve the warranty. Doubts were quelled and now we are enjoying a greater than 30% savings in electricity use in the US stores we retrofitted (almost all of them). We’re so sold on LEDs that we’re even loaning them to employees so they can test the light at home before purchasing them. Our supplier even agreed to extend our corporate discount to employees!

It is really very good post, but I do not see everything completely clear, especially for someone not involved in that topic