RF100 Chesco Supermarkets - Supermarkets

Supermarkets – Part of the Climate Solution

For Supermarkets

 Resources related to reducing refrigerant emissions 

1. Greenchill

 GreenChill is a voluntary EPA partnership program that works collaboratively with the food retail industry to reduce refrigerant emissions and decrease their impact on the ozone layer and climate change. Learn more about GreenChill's mission. 

GreenChill's Store Certification Program for Food Retailers recognizes individual stores for using environmentally friendlier commercial refrigeration systems. A typical food retail store’s refrigeration system leaks about one-quarter of its refrigerant charge each year. In addition to the financial expense that these refrigerant leaks have on a store’s bottom line, they also can harm the ozone layer and impact climate change. GreenChill Certified Stores significantly reduce the environmental impact of their refrigeration systems. 

Learn about their store certification process. 

 The following GreenChill Food Retail Partners and their subsidiaries have made a commitment to reduce their corporate refrigerant emissions by annually setting reduction goals, measuring corporate stocks and emissions, and reporting their data to EPA. GreenChill’s Food Retail Partners operate more than 12,600 stores with locations in all 50 states, representing over 30% of the supermarket industry. 

Here is the link to the complete list: https://www.epa.gov/greenchill/greenchill-food-retail-partners 

This April 2021 article also highlights an example of Greenchill commitments and other leaders in the supermarket industry.

2. The North American Sustainable Refrigeration Council (NASRC)

 Learn more about this action-oriented 501c3 nonprofit working to advance natural refrigerant adoption in the grocery sector to create a climate-friendly future for refrigeration.     

Natural refrigerants, including carbon dioxide, ammonia, and hydrocarbons, are a climate-friendly and future-proof refrigerant solution for supermarkets. But it’s not as easy as just switching to natural refrigerants. A unique set of market barriers - such as high upfront cost premiums, a shortage of workforce training, lack of performance data, and technology gaps in existing stores - are preventing their widespread adoption.

Together with their members, they are addressing those barriers head-on to establish a pathway for the widespread adoption of natural refrigerants across North America.

See especially their HFCs resource materials here. 

3. Understanding Refrigerant Regulations

 A Practical Guide to Fluorinated Gas Regulations focuses on regulatory frameworks (including legislation, rules, and codes) that impact the food retail industry was prepared in 2021 by the Ratio Institute. Download here.

 U.S. states currently have rules mandating phasedowns and other restrictions on HFCs, many others are waiting on the federal rules to be finalized before proposing their own to align with them. Food retailers need to get ahead of this fast-moving regulatory curve. Our guide aims to help food retailers plan for the transition to low-GWP or natural refrigerants rather than wait until this process is required by law.

Work with your corporate headquarter to learn what commitments have been made to reduce HFCs. Given the significant global warming impact of HFCs, EIA is calling for all supermarkets to: 

  • Develop a strategy to fully phase out all HFCs in refrigeration within this decade. 
  • Immediately use only HFC‑free refrigeration in all new builds and major retrofits.
  • Reduce corporate average refrigerant leak rates below 10% and publish progress towards this goal.
  • Make public commitments or goals to reduce HFC use and emissions and proactively engage with stakeholders in industry and policy settings. 
  • Reduce the overall climate footprint of their cooling including through energy efficiency measures and easy-but-impactful steps like adding doors or night shades to open cases, upgrading to LED lighting, and reducing leaks.
  • Enhance transparency by regularly publishing information quantifying current refrigerant emissions, all actions taken to adopt technology, reduce leaks, increase efficiency, as well as stating measurable future commitments to reduce use and emissions

 

Resources on Electricity, Efficiency and Sustainability

A.  Better Buildings Initiatives

Better Buildings is an initiative of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) designed to improve the lives of the American people by driving leadership in energy innovation. Through Better Buildings, DOE partners with leaders in the public and private sectors to make the nation’s homes, commercial buildings, and industrial plants more energy-efficient by accelerating investment and sharing of successful best practices. The program includes a focus on retail, food service and grocery stores. The Retail, Food Service, and Grocery sectors spend over $41 billion on energy costs a year and represent 14 billion square feet of floorspace in the U.S. Collectively, Better Buildings Alliance sector members account for almost 3 billion square feet of building space, or 19% of retail floor space nationwide. Through their engagement with the program, these organizations share tips and strategies for overcoming energy efficiency barriers and meeting their organization’s energy use reduction goals.

To learn more, review the most recent Annual report: https://betterbuildingssolutioncenter.energy.gov/sites/default/files/attachments/DOE_BBI_2021_Progress_Report.pdf 

U.S. Department of Energy Guide to Better Buildings. 

U.S. Dept. of Energy Better Buildings Initiative There is a symposium in May 2021. 

Link to the retail section:

https://betterbuildingssolutioncenter.energy.gov/alliance/sector/retail-food-service-grocery

Or click here: Better Buildings, Retail Food and Grocery Stores 

U.S. Dept of Energy produced a guide in 2016 with specific recommendations for grocery stores in cutting energy use:

https://www.energy.gov/eere/articles/design-guide-helps-grocery-stores-cut-energy-use

 Improvements made by UNFI: ttps://www.grocerydive.com/news/unfi-sets-climate-change-targets/591693/

 

B. Sustainable Food Retail Certification

Ratio Institute’s Sustainable Food Retail Certification (GSC) program was developed with the bottom line of your grocery business in mind.

With an average profit margin of just 1.7% in the grocery industry, Ratio Institute’s program helps food retailers achieve operational excellence and meet sustainability goals by benchmarking performance, reducing costs, and increasing margins.

 

C. The Climate Collaborative

The Climate Collaborative includes businesses from the natural products industry working collaboratively to catalyze bold action, amplify the voice of business and promote sound policy to reverse climate change

https://www.climatecollaborative.com/about 

Consult their resources here. There is a robust description of 9 commitment areas and list of 352 signatories: https://www.climatecollaborative.com/take_action and commitments related to efficiency: https://www.climatecollaborative.com/energy_efficiency
 


D. Local Resources

PECO Grocery Store Energy Solutions are helpful and free. 

Chester County’s approved plan to tackle the climate crisis.  How will it affect your business?

See the plan here: Chester County's Climate Action Plan 

E. Efficiency Changes You Can Make At A Local Store
  • Lighting – switching to LED lighting, lowering light fixtures
  • Ovens/appliances – higher efficiency equipment
  • HVAC – geothermal and electric heat pump systems
  • Building envelope – more insulation, air-locks for doors
  • Freezers – with doors (not open all the time)
  • Vehicles - No idling rules for delivery to stores
  • Use high mileage, hybrid or EVs for delivery to customers
  • Provide charging stations for EVs for customers