In a ceremony held this week, Food Lion received its first platinum-level award – the highest level granted – for the store, which uses an Advansor CO2-only transcritical booster system from Hillphoenix. This is also Food Lion’s first test of a transcritical system.
Food Lion is an original member of the EPA’s GreenChill Partnership, which recognises individual grocery stores that implement environmentally friendly refrigeration systems. Stores can receive platinum, gold or silver-level certifications, based on leak and charge levels, as well as use of low-GWP (under 150) refrigerants for platinum.
“Food Lion is honoured to receive this certification,” said Susan Sollenberger, director of energy, maintenance and equipment purchasing at Food Lion. “For many years, Food Lion has been committed to protecting our environment by decreasing our energy consumption, lessening our waste stream and reducing our carbon footprint. This recognition by GreenChill is one more indication of the great efforts the Food Lion team is making.”
In 2013 and 2014, Food Lion received the GreenChill Superior Goal Achievement Award as well as the 2015 Distinguished Partner Award, an individual award won by Nick Cordasci, Food Lion refrigerant compliance specialist.
“Food Lion’s commitment to achieve GreenChill’s certification standards for its new store proves that the company is serious about its role in protecting the ozone layer and preventing climate change,” said Tom Land, manager of EPA’s GreenChill Partnership. “It is important that companies understand that helping the environment has become the business model of the future.”
Hannaford Supermarkets, a Scarborough, Maine, division of Delhaize America, has installed transcritical systems in two stores, including one in Turner, Main, that is platinum certified. In addition to the Food Lion store, nine other US supermarkets have platinum certification.