Endangered Species Chocolate is currently seeking certification through The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System.

Press Release

September 30, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS – Endangered Species Chocolate is shifting its electrical energy source to 100 percent wind power on October 1, 2009. This is the company’s most recent move in a targeted eighteen-month campaign toward enhancing the sustainability of its operations.

The wind energy is being purchased through Indianapolis Power & Light’s Green Power Option, which enables customers to pay a higher premium to purchase electricity generated from clean, renewable energy sources. IPL acquires the energy in the form of Renewable Energy Certificates from a variety of renewably generated energy sources. Effective October 1, Endangered Species Chocolate will be completely powered by the energy harvested from wind farms in Indiana and Texas.

Through sourcing green power, Endangered Species Chocolate will be reducing its carbon footprint. According to an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator, an estimated 868 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions will be avoided, which equates to the greenhouse gas emissions of 159 passenger vehicles each year or the (CO2) emissions from the electricity use of 120 average American homes for 1 year.

Sourcing renewable electricity enables Endangered Species Chocolate’s participation in the EPA’s Green Power Partnership. This voluntary program encourages organizations to purchase green energy as an effective means to improve environmental performance.

In addition to sourcing renewable energy, Endangered Species Chocolate has initiated a company wide campaign to green its operations. Efficiency improvements to its HVAC and electrical systems in addition to a reduction in warehouse lighting will decrease energy consumption by 40 percent in 2009. The installation of an efficient Hobart flight style washing machine has reduced water consumption by 500 gallons per day, also reducing hot water heating needs. Material scrap has been reduced to less than 2 percent.

“Endangered Species Chocolate chose to source 100 percent wind energy to bolster our commitment to a greener operations and a greener planet,” says Wayne Zink, CEO. “This commitment aligns with our company vision to manifest the Earth as a habitat where species and humanity flourish.”

Endangered Species Chocolate is currently seeking certification through The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System (™). This third-party rating system balances profitable design and construction practices with environmentalism and occupant well-being.

About Endangered Species Chocolate

Indianapolis-based Endangered Species Chocolate is fully committed to providing premium, all-natural ethically traded, naturally shade-grown, and kosher products, as well as products that are certified vegan and organic. To honor its core value – Reverence for Life – ESC confirms that all beans used in its products are purchased from family-owned properties where the income benefits the community. The company also donates 10-percent of net profits to help support species, habitat and humanity. The number one best selling brand of natural chocolate in the natural food category, ESC offers more than 30 products. For more information, please visit www.chocolatebar.com.

About Indianapolis Power & Light Company (IPL)

IPL provides retail electric service to more than 470,000 residential, commercial and industrial customers in Indianapolis, as well as portions of other Central Indiana Communities surrounding Marion County.

About the EPA’s Green Power Partnership

The EPA’s Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program helping to increase the organizational procurement of green power in the US. More than 1,000 Partner organizations currently purchase billions of kilowatt-hours of green power each year. Partnership is diverse, with representation from Fortune 500 companies, small to medium sized businesses, governmental organizations, and academic and cultural institutions.

About The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System (™)

LEED is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing third-party verification that a building or community was designed and built using strategies aimed at improving performance across all the metrics that matter most: energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality, and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

Source: Endangered Species Chocolate