American Eagle Outfitters
At a Glance
Industry
Retail and Apparel
Project Type
Data Analysis
Year
2016
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Net Present Value:
$1,400,000
Annual kWh Savings:
6,300,000 kWh
Annual CO2 Reductions:
4,400 metric tons
Summary
Shuvya Arakali conducted an analysis of energy use in American Eagle Outfitters’ stores and provided recommendations for potential energy-saving initiatives.
Goals
American Eagle Outfitters enlisted EDF Climate Corps fellow Shuvya Arakali to identify and analyze energy efficiency opportunities across the company’s United States and Canadian store fronts, as well as renewable energy options in its corporate offices. While stores constitute the largest proportion of energy use for the retail company, they also pose the greatest opportunity for energy savings and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions. Shuvya’s work was to identify low-hanging energy efficiency opportunities, setting the company up to meet its next energy reduction goals.
Solutions
After assessing baseline energy use across the store portfolio, conducting store visits and interviewing numerous departments, including facilities, real estate, legal, and finance, Shuvya determined the greatest opportunities for energy reduction were in packaged HVAC retrofits, Energy Star upgrades, plug load management, store employee engagement, and green leasing modifications. After consulting with solar vendors, she also identified rooftop solar and power purchase agreements as potential cost-saving opportunities.
Potential Impact
Shuvya’s recommendations could potentially save nearly $450,000 and 4,500 mT of CO2e in annual store energy use, with a combined net present value of $1.4 million. While an onsite solar estimate was found to have a negative return on investment, Shuvya determined that a combination of virtual and physical power purchase agreements is the most financially favorable route for American Eagle Outfitters.