PHOENIX, Ariz., (April 7, 2008) - ARAMARK Parks & Resorts was recognized today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its leading green power purchase and for its support and participation in the Agency's Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge. Throughout 2007, EPA challenged America's largest corporations to collectively exceed more than 5 billion kilowatt-hours of green power purchasing annually, and ARAMARK Parks & Resorts stepped up. ARAMARK Parks & Resorts is purchasing more than 15 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power, which is enough to meet 100 percent of the company's purchased electricity use. ARAMARK Parks & Resorts purchased renewable energy certificates (RECs) from Carbon Solutions Group and Bonneville Environmental Foundation.
Recently, the EPA updated each of its National Top Partner lists, highlighting some of America's largest green power purchasers. ARAMARK Parks & Resorts currently ranks No. 29 on EPA's Fortune 500 List. Each list highlights EPA Green Power Partners that have completed the largest annual voluntary purchases through January 8, 2008. EPA's updates its Top Partner Lists quarterly at http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/.
ARAMARK Parks & Resorts is purchasing green power in support of EPA's Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge. The 13-month campaign concluded at the end of 2007 with ARAMARK Parks & Resorts' purchase contributing to EPA exceeding its 5 billion kilowatt-hour challenge goal. ARAMARK Parks & Resorts' purchase ranks No. 29 among participating corporations. EPA also announced the kickoff of its second Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge, which will conclude at the end of 2009.
"This is a huge honor and we are proud to be recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency," said Bruce Fears, president of ARAMARK Harrison Lodging. "Purchasing green power helps our organization become more sustainable, while also sending a message to others across the U.S. that supporting clean sources of electricity is a sound business decision and an important choice in reducing climate risk."
Green power is electricity that is generated from environmentally preferable renewable resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, biomass and low-impact hydro. These resources generate electricity with a net zero increase in carbon dioxide emissions, while offering a superior environmental profile compared to traditional power generation sources. Green power purchases also support the development of new renewable energy generation sources nationwide.
According to the U.S. EPA, ARAMARK Parks & Resorts' green power purchase of more than 15 million (kWh) is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of nearly 2,000 passenger vehicles per year, or is the equivalent amount of electricity needed to power nearly 2,000 average American homes annually.
About ARAMARK Harrison Lodging and ARAMARK Parks & Resorts
ARAMARK Harrison Lodging, a division of ARAMARK, provides a wide range of professional services, including meeting and recreational support services to 50 conference and corporate training centers, specialty hotels, national and state parks, resorts and other tourist destinations throughout the United States. ARAMARK Harrison Lodging is a single source provider for educational environments, event and meeting planning, premium dining needs and catering, on-site restaurants, retail merchandise sales and facilities management. For more information on ARAMARK Harrison Lodging, please log on to www.aramarkharrisonlodging.com. ARAMARK Parks & Resorts, a concessioner of the National Park Service, provides food and recreational services to national and state parks and tourist attractions throughout the United States including Lake Powell, Mesa Verde, Denali and Shenandoah National Park. For More information on ARAMARK Parks & Resorts, please log on to www.aramarkparks.com.
About ARAMARK
ARAMARK is a leader in professional services, providing award-winning food services, facilities management, and uniform and career apparel to health care institutions, universities and school districts, stadiums and arenas, and businesses around the world. In FORTUNE magazine's list of "America's Most Admired Companies," ARAMARK has consistently ranked as one of the top three most admired companies in its industry and also ranked first in its industry in
the 2007 FORTUNE 500 survey. ARAMARK seeks to responsibly address issues that matter to its clients, customers, employees and communities by focusing on employee advocacy, environmental stewardship, health and wellness, and community involvement. Headquartered in Philadelphia, ARAMARK has approximately 250,000 employees serving clients in 19 countries. Learn more at the company's Web site, www.aramark.com.
About EPA's Green Power Partnership
The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages organizations to buy green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with purchased electricity use. The Partnership currently has hundreds of Partner organizations voluntarily purchasing billions of kilowatt-hours of green power annually. Partners include a wide variety of leading organizations such as Fortune 500 companies, small and medium sized businesses, local, state, and
federal governments, and colleges and universities. For additional information, please visit http://www.epa.gov/greenpower.