WASHINGTON — Supervalu, Minnepolis, announced that it has joined the U.S. Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Challenge, which aims to engage building operators nationwide in improving energy efficiency by 20% by 2020.
The announcement was made by President Obama and former President Clinton during a leadership event here attended by Craig Herkert, Supervalu’s chief executive officer and president, Friday morning.
“Reducing our energy footprint and creating a more thoughtful and sustainable operation are important priorities, and we will continue to test innovative ways to build our stores with future generations in mind,” said Herkert. “These projects are good for the environment, improve our operating efficiency and create jobs — ultimately benefiting the communities we serve.”
Supervalu invested $20 million in energy efficiency initiatives this year, resulting in more than 1,300 projects across its enterprise. The company is developing the first low-carbon refrigeration system using ammonia as a refrigerant at an Albertsons store being remodeled in Carpinteria, Calif. Over the past five years, the company has been working to reduce total carbon emissions by 10% and landfill waste by 50% and is on track to reach those milestones by the end of 2012.
Launched in February by Obama, the Better Buildings Challenge is spearheaded by Clinton and the President’s Council on Jobs and Competitiveness to support job creation by catalyzing private sector investment in commercial and industrial building energy upgrades.