Hannaford stores earn energy efficiency rating

[Erik Sine]

Hannaford stores earn energy efficiency rating

Hannaford Bros. Co. has been awarded Energy Star labels by the EPA for demonstrating superior energy performance at 16 of its grocery stores in New England.

Ten of the stores are in Maine — including four in the Portland area, as well as in Wells, Saco, Topsham, Yarmouth, Gorham, and York.

Hannaford is one of a few companies in New England to earn EPA's prestigious Energy Star Leaders designation this year, for the overall performance of its 158 stores throughout New England and New York. The remaining six Hannaford stores that have earned an Energy Star label are in Vermont.

"Across New England, energy savings are soaring because organizations like Hannaford are making smart energy decisions that are good for the environment and good for their bottom line," said EPA Regional Administrator Robert W. Varney.

Compared to similar buildings with average energy performance, EPA calculates that the 10 Hannaford grocery stores in Maine used 40 percent less energy.

When a building uses less energy, it generates less pollution and saves money. EPA estimates that the 16 Energy Star labeled Hannaford stores in New England avoided more than 52 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions annually - the equivalent of taking more than 5,100 cars off the road for one year.

The top performing buildings that earned the Energy Star in 2006 include about 320 supermarkets, 320 office buildings, and 200 K-12 schools. Almost 90 banks, courthouses, financial centers, hospitals, hotels, and — for the first time — dormitories also earned the Energy Star.

Hannaford achieved superior energy performance through a combination of technology upgrades and management improvements.

These included:

— Efficient T8 fluorescent lighting with electronic ballasts in its stores.

— Many of the "Hannaford" signs are illuminated with red LEDs, a much more efficient alternative to the traditional neon system.

— Hannaford stores operate more efficiently by re-using waste heat from refrigeration for space heating.

— The Building Automation System (BAS) integrates control of lighting, refrigeration, heating, ventilation, and air conditioning.

— Upgrading portions of its fleet with more aerodynamic and lighter vehicles; installing single-wide tires to improve fuel efficiency and automatic idle shutdown mechanisms; and making improvements to save fuel and reduce emissions including the use of tandem trailers, improved weight distribution within trucks, and changes in delivery practices.

Hannaford Bros. Co., based in Scarborough, Maine, operates 158 stores under the Hannaford Supermarket and Hannaford Supermarket and Pharmacy names.

EPA started the Energy Star program in 1992. Energy Star is a government-backed program that helps businesses and consumers protect the environment through superior energy efficiency. Last year alone, American consumers and businesses, with the help of Energy Star , saved $12 billion and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to those from 23 million vehicles.

[B.O.P.]

..."signs are illuminated with red LEDs, a much more efficient alternative to the traditional neon system."

Sounds like the EPA needs to do their homework better. As usual with others, it looks like they too were sold a bill of goods on the "energy savings" of LED's and didn't bother confirming any of the data and just took it at face value.

[Erik Sine]

I think the neon industry needs to have a talk with "Energy Star" and perform a test with their rare earth phosphors and HPF tranny's to get a rating of their own

[B.O.P.]

I think the neon industry needs to have a talk with "Energy Star" and perform a test with their rare earth phosphors and HPF tranny's to get a rating of their own

Sounds like a job for EGL

[Erik Sine]

I would think maybe just the tranny alone. John of Ventex or Joe of Technolux ever look into this?

I would think small steps like this will help preserve the industry in many ways than one