Oct. 11, 2007 Wal-Mart saved 4,500 tons of carbon emissions and more than $1 million in electricity costs this summer simply by turning down the lights in its stores.

The "two-thirds" reduced summer-lighting program, originally piloted in Ontario, Canada, to address concerns over rising energy costs in the province, was expanded this year to include 240 Wal-Mart locations throughout Canada.

"We view our energy choices as an investment," said Mario Pilozzi, president and CEO of Wal-Mart Canada Corp. "On the one hand, our choice to turn our lights down reduced the environmental cost of 4,500 tons of carbon, and the business cost of $1.2 million in electricity. On the other hand, our choice to bear the expense of major green-power purchases is really an investment in the future of cleaner energy for everyone."

The new nationwide lighting initiative is part of Wal-Mart Canada's "For the Greener Good" sustainability program which, among other goals, aims to reduce carbon emissions through higher-efficiency building design, equipment upgrades and retrofits, and more effective energy management. This year, the company also became Canada's largest commercial purchaser of green power.