ENERGY CONSERVATION: Food Lion

JEFF WELLS

More power to 'em: This spring, Food Lion officials announced two major milestones in energy efficiency. The retailer became the first in the country to utilize a dual refrigeration system that requires 60% less refrigerant than a typical setup. Executives also announced that the number of stores certified by the Environmental Protection Agency's prestigious EnergyStar program had reached 725 — more than half of the approximately 1,300 EnergyStar-certified grocery stores in the country.

Being an energy pioneer has proved to be business as usual for Food Lion over the past several years. Indeed, the Salisbury, N.C.-based retailer is making strides and setting goals for both itself and the industry.

“It's very clear to us that Food Lion has strategic energy management not just as a goal, but as an integral part of what the company does,” said Maria Vargas, spokeswoman for the EPA's EnergyStar program. “We've been very impressed.”

The company has said it plans to expand the number of stores using its dual-refrigeration system, as well as the number of EnergyStar-certified stores. In addition, Food Lion has been a leader in the EPA's GreenChill program, which has brought together retailers and the refrigeration industry under the goal of reducing ozone-depleting emissions that cooling technologies put out. Done right, the EPA estimates the program could eliminate as much as 1.6 million tons of carbon per year. The EPA expects Food Lion, as a charter member, to assist other retailers implement cost-saving programs.

Food Lion's efforts are certainly yielding results: The retailer reduced its energy use by more than 27% between 2000 and 2007, despite an increase in the number of stores.