by Jbs091308b3 — September 15, 2008—The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has named Giant Eagle and Harris Teeter as the first winners of its GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership Environmental Achievement Award. The award recognizes the two food retailers for emitting the lowest rates of ozone-depleting refrigerant in GreenChill’s first year.
GreenChill partners in the food retail business reportedly have refrigerant emissions rates nearly 50 percent lower than the EPA-estimated industry average. These partners are responsible for a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from refrigerants totaling 2.5 million metric tons of carbon dioxide—equivalent to the annual emissions of 500,000 cars, says EPA. They also saved nearly $13 million in 2007, showing that “what’s good for the environment is good for business.”
If supermarkets nationwide reduced emissions to the current GreenChill average, they could generate an additional cost savings of $67 million while preventing the annual emission of 13 million metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent and 157 ozone depleting potential (ODP) tons, says EPA.
GreenChill has tripled its membership from 10 to 30 partners in less than a year, and welcomes eight new partners this week: Price Chopper Supermarkets (New England)
Supervalu Inc. (including Acme Markets, Albertsons Intermountain West, Albertson’s/Lucky Southern California, bigg’s, Cub Foods, Farm Fresh Food & Pharmacy, Hornbacher’s, Jewel/Osco, Shaw’s/Star Markets, Shop’n Save St. Louis, and Shoppers Food & Pharmacy)(nationwide); Weis Markets Inc. (mid-Atlantic); Hussmann Corp. (MO); Zero Zone Inc. (WI); Arkema, Inc. (Philadelphia); The Dow Chemical Co. (MI); and Ineos Fluor Americas (LA).
