I have recently returned from a Bertelsmann’s “Be Green” meeting where representatives from the many green committees throughout the Bertelsmann world got together to discuss ways to de-carbonize our business practices as a corporate response to the very real climate crisis our planet is facing. One of the initiatives that I presented was the great news that Random House of Canada has agreed to purchase “green” electricity for our Mississauga and Toronto St locations from Bullfrog Power and I would like to officially inform you all this is the direction we are taking.

Random House of Canada has become Canada’s first major trade publisher to sign on with Bullfrog Power, a leading Canadian provider of 100 per cent green electricity. We have agreed to purchase almost 1,300 MWh of green electricity annually for our operations in Toronto and Mississauga, Ontario, joining the growing number of Canadian homes, businesses and organizations that support locally produced, clean, renewable power from Bullfrog.

In case you are wondering what “green” electricity is, it is produced from windmills and small scale hydroelectric dams. This power produces no greenhouse gases and it is a concrete commitment from our company in fighting climate change and this purchase is something of which we should all be very proud. “Random House of Canada takes our environmental responsibility seriously,” said Brad Martin, President and CEO, Random House of Canada. “We have been impressed by the positive impact Bullfrog is having and are pleased to be working with them as one of our environmentally conscious initiatives.”

Random House of Canada has committed, as part of Random House, Inc., to instituting environmentally sustainable measures in its business operations. The organization is targeting the use of 30 per cent recycled fibers in uncoated papers and 10 per cent in coated papers for its books by 2010. Already a year ahead of schedule, Random House estimates that 300,000 trees were saved in 2007 due to these initiatives.

Random House of Canada has a strong program of publishing books on environmental topics. Recent titles include The Upside of Down by Thomas Homer-Dixon, Heat by George Monbiot, The Geography of Hope by Chris Turner, and Ecoholic by Adria Vasil. In addition, Random House of Canada has purchased 65 digital readers for staff, significantly reducing the number of manuscripts printed in-house. It has also established a green committee, which has eliminated water bottles and plastic dishes at most company meetings and implemented the use of environmentally benign cleaning products.

“We are very happy to welcome Random House of Canada as to the community of bullfrogpowered organizations,” said Tom Heintzman, President, Bullfrog Power. “Random House of Canada has already taken important steps to reduce its environmental impact and Bullfrog is proud to be a part of its ongoing sustainability plan.”