Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market has joined the US Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership, voluntarily committing to reduce refrigerant emissions to minimize the impact on climate change and protect the ozone layer.
According to GreenChill, the industry average for refrigerant leakage is 25%. Fresh & Easy’s current leak rate is well under 10% due to advanced refrigeration technologies and the company’s use of a refrigeration system alarm center and leak detection program to monitor and respond to refrigerant leaks quickly.
Fresh & Easy also stresses energy efficiency. Characteristics of the company’s refrigeration units include:
•Energy-efficient doors on freezer and dairy doors. Using triple-pane glass with an anti-fog coating that eliminates the need for door heaters to handle icing or fogging.
•Refrigeration cases use night curtains to conserve energy while ensuring food stays at the appropriate temperature when the stores are closed.
•LED lighting in freezer and dairy cases.
“By being thoughtful in how we operate all parts of our business, we’ve been able to make a significant difference in our overall environmental impact,” said Tim Mason, Fresh & Easy chief executive officer. “We are always looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint, from energy-efficient refrigeration units, to skylight in stores, to our solar panel installation on our distribution center.”
Fresh & Easy has committed to build LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design)-certified buildings, and voluntarily joined The Climate Registry to disclose its greenhouse gas emissions. The company also invested in a 500,000-square-foot solar roof installation on its distribution center in Riverside, which currently produces more than 75% of the center’s energy.
