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EPA Recognizes Environment Achievements of NJ and NY Supermarkets for Their Work to Combat Climate Change; Supervalu, Hannaford Bros., Weis Markets, Price Chopper and Kysor/Warren each earn Environmental Achievement Award

Release Date: 09/23/2010
Contact Information: Jim Fallon (212) 637-5034, [email protected]

(New York, N.Y.) EPA’s national GreenChill partnership recently recognized a number of supermarket chains with stores in New Jersey and New York for their efforts to reduce emissions from refrigeration equipment and their impact on climate change. GreenChill partners transition to low-impact refrigerants, take action to reduce the amount of refrigerant used, eliminate leaks, and adopt green refrigeration technologies, strategies, and practices. Each partner establishes pollution reduction goal every year, and if the company exceeds its goal, it is recognized by EPA with an award.

EPA estimates that if supermarkets nationwide reduced their emissions to the GreenChill average emissions rate, the industry would eliminate the equivalent of 22,000,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, equal to removing nearly 4,000,000 cars from the road. This would also help restore stratospheric ozone, which protects the Earth from the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, a leading cause of skin cancer.

Awardees include Supervalu, which is a parent company to a number of smaller chains operating in New Jersey; Weis Markets, which has facilities in New Jersey and New York; and Hannaford, King Kullen and Price Chopper, all of which operate in New York. The companies exceeded their target emissions reduction goals to reduce greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting refrigerant emissions. The Agency also gave a top national honor to Kysor/Warren, a major manufacturer of green refrigerant systems, for pioneering work on an environmentally friendly carbon dioxide refrigeration system that reduces the impact on the ozone layer. The company was also recognized for its participation in GreenChill's advanced refrigeration technology data project, the store certification program, special projects, webinars, and GreenChill events, and its willingness to share information on best practices with other partners for the good of the industry as a whole. Supervalu also received a Distinguished Partner Award.

“Global Warming is the most serious problem facing the planet,” said Regional Administrator Judith Enck. “Every business has an essential role to play in reducing greenhouse gas pollution. I applaud these businesses that have gone the extra mile and are leading the way.”

Supervalu/ACME Markets, Hannaford Bros., Weis Markets, and Price Chopper each earned GreenChill Environmental Achievement Awards for exceeding their company’s target emissions reduction goal to reduce greenhouse gases and ozone-depleting refrigerant emissions. Wiess had the largest improvement, with a 20% reduction in greenhouse gas and ozone-depleting refrigerant emissions. That is the biggest improvement of all partner companies.

GreenChill now has a total of 50 partners with almost 5,500 stores in 48 states. For additional information on EPA’s GreenChill Partnership, please visit: https://www.epa.gov/greenchill

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