Central America. Central American countries have been working on the development of regional energy efficiency programs, which have received great support from the Walmart supermarket chain, which announced the investment of US$4.5 million in energy efficiency during 2013.
According to the plans revealed by the company, the intention is that all its stores in the region have LED lighting indoors, because outside the nearly 480 stores they have in the area already have state-of-the-art lighting.
In total, the company expects to save between 40% and 50% in the operating expenses that are generated in the payment of energy for lighting. In addition, they will include in this energy saving plan efficient refrigeration equipment, as well as automation of some systems in stores.
Of the total to be invested this year, about US$700,000 will be destidanos to investments in stores in El Salvador, which reach about 69 among the different brands that the chain manages.
René Cedillos, Walmart's director of sustainability in Central America, explained that the company's policy is to constantly seek efficiency by measuring the implementation of new technologies, which are installed in all stores equally and now very focused on energy saving.
With the first stage of this process, the chain managed to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 20% compared to 2006, as well as a 30% higher energy efficiency compared to spending in this area in 2005.
