White Paper Co. Goes Green with Solar Panels

Markham, Canada, March 14, 2012 --(PR.com)-- In September 2010 White Paper Co. made the commitment to become a completely carbon neutral company. One of the primary strategies being used in achieving this is through the installation of Solar Panels on the roof of their Markham branch which was recently completed in January 2012. The power generated will not only power the Markham facility but will also help generate power for other businesses in the surrounding area, thus reducing the overall impact on the environment.

In order to become Carbon Neutral an organization needs to offset their annual CO2 emissions with non-carbon emissions or alternatives that don't emit CO2 into the environment. “Solar Panels were our best and most effective option in reducing our CO2 emissions,” says Michael Shein, President and CEO, White Paper Co. “The sun produces more energy every hour than the entire energy needs of human civilization from the beginning of time. Solar panels help harvest increasing amounts of this abundance of energy to meet our energy needs in the future.”

In January 2012 White Paper Co. completed the installation of a 135 kilowatt system comprising of 548 individual-245 watt Poly Crystalline Solar Photovoltaic panels. Estimated yearly production for the system is 165,607 kilowatt of solar energy produced. One kilowatt hour equals the amount of electricity required to burn a 100 watt light bulb for 10 hours. “The energy produced from our solar panels in one month can power that light bulb for 69,003 days or 189 years,” continues Michael Shein. “An average household uses approximately 866 kilowatt hours per month. Our system has enough energy to delivery power to 191 homes each month.”

To offset their own CO2 emissions, White Paper Co. has connected to the Ontario power grid which enables the extra energy generated from their solar panels to be distributed and consumed by local residents and businesses. A one-kilowatt home solar system will prevent approximately 170 pounds of coal from being burned; 300 pounds of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere; and 105 gallons of water from being consumed each month. White Paper Co.’s 135 kilowatt system is expected to save 64.4 tonnes of Carbon emissions annually. This is also expected to save approximately 3,000 trees per year.

White Paper Co. has made a strategic commitment to sustainability and good corporate citizenship. They hope to encourage their customers, suppliers and other companies to do the same. Employees have also been asked to get involved in this corporate initiative: with suggestions on how to reduce the company’s Carbon footprint; by actively promoting their green products (recycled paper, office products and promotional products) and finally by spreading the word to encourage other companies to follow in our footsteps. Michael Shein concludes with “becoming Carbon Neutral involves White Paper Co. employees making some real changes to their daily roles but we know it’s worth it.”