The Home Depot Announces Canadian Store Energy Savings of 220 Million
Kilowatt-Hours Since 2005; Sets Energy Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Targets for 2015

Company to Achieve a 20 Percent Reduction in its Canadian Store Energy Use and a 20 Percent Reduction in Greenhouse Gas Emissions from its Domestic Supply Chain

Company Calculating Comprehensive Carbon Footprint for Future Announcement

TORONTO, March 4 /CNW/ - The Home Depot(R), the world's largest home improvement retailer, today announced that it has reduced its Canadian store energy use by 220 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) since 2005 and that it will achieve a 20 percent reduction in kWh per square foot usage in its Canadian stores by 2015. Also, the Company has set a goal to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in its domestic supply chain by 20 percent within the next five years.

Finally, the Company is in the process of calculating its comprehensive carbon footprint based on the World Resources Institute and World Business Council for Sustainable Development protocol, the emerging standard for government and business leaders to understand, quantify and manage greenhouse gas emissions. The results of the findings will be released in one year's time.

"We are proud of the accomplishments The Home Depot Canada has made to-date to operate a more efficient business. We will continue to identify additional ways we can reduce our store energy use and our transportation green house gas emissions," said Gino DiGioacchino, vice president of Merchandising for The Home Depot Canada. "As one of Canada's largest retailers, The Home Depot believes it can make a positive impact on the environment by operating a more efficient business and by continuing to provide Canadians with environmentally-preferred products and programs."

Canadian Store Energy Efficiency

During the past five years, The Home Depot has reduced its Canadian stores' energy per square foot consumption by 17 percent. At the start of 2005, The Home Depot's energy usage was 25 kWh per square foot. Through a series of operational programs including the upgrading of store HVAC systems, aligning of stocking hours more closely with store operating hours, use of CFL bulbs and a switch to T5 lighting, the Company's Canadian store energy usage now stands at 21.1 kWh per square foot. Since these reductions began in 2005, the Company has saved 220 million kWh of energy, which is enough energy to power 12,500 homes for one year.

Moving forward, the Company believes it can reach 20 kWh per square foot of energy use in its stores by 2015. The stores will continue to gain operational and energy efficiencies through a move from 54 to 49 watt lighting and additional HVAC upgrades. All of these efforts, representing an additional reduction of approximately five percent from the current usage amounts, will bring the total reduction since 2005 to 20 percent.

Domestic Supply Chain

In addition to store operations efforts, the Company has set a 2015 target to reduce its domestic supply chain greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent from its 2008 levels. As the Company continues its supply chain transformation of moving from having predominately supplier-to-store shipments to the utilization of a centralized distribution network, it expects to see an increase in transportation efficiencies.

The reduction of GHGs from the Company's domestic supply chain during the next five years will be largely the result of more efficient routing, scheduling and the consolidation of shipments to stores.

Consumer Programs

The Home Depot is in a unique position among companies that announce environmental goals because, in addition to operational targets, the Company is helping its customers achieve energy savings through its product and service offerings. The sales of more than 2 million ENERGY STAR(R) products at The Home Depot during 2009 will reduce Canadian customers energy consumption by over 230 million kWh and reduce green house gas emissions by over 121 thousand metric tonnes annually. These savings were from ENERGY STAR(R) products such as refrigerators, dishwashers, CFLs and programmable thermostats. Through its first Go Low Flow two day water conservation event, the Company sold 44,000 efficient toilets helping to reduce water consumption by over 850 million liters per year - enough water to fill 340 Olympic-size swimming pools.

In 2004, the Company introduced Eco Options, its exclusive product category whose items meet certain environmental performance criteria, allowing consumers to identify products that have less of an impact on the environment than traditional products in the same category. Six years later, the program has certified over 1,700 products that meet specifications for energy efficiency, water conservation, healthy home, clean air or sustainable forestry.

In 2010, the Company plans expand its Eco Options program with new products while continuing to offer customers programs to retire inefficient household products.

The Home Depot is the world's largest home improvement specialty retailer, with 2,245 retail stores in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, 10 Canadian provinces, Mexico and China. In fiscal 2008, The Home Depot had sales of $71.3 billion and earnings from continuing operations of $2.3 billion. The Company employs more than 300,000 associates. The Home Depot's stock is traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HD) and is included in the Dow Jones industrial average and Standard & Poor's 500 index.

For further information: Tiziana Baccega, Manager, Public Relations & External Affairs, [phone], [email protected]