Two Weis stores earn certifications from GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership

SUNBURY, Pa. — Two Weis stores containing a new, environmentally efficient design have earned environmental certifications awards from the GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership, a voluntary Environmental Protection Agency alliance with food retailers to reduce refrigerant emissions and decrease their impact on the ozone layer and climate change, the grocer announced Wednesday.

The 62,000-sq.-ft. units are located in Forks Township, near Easton, Pa., and in Bellefonte, near State College, Pa. Each unit achieved a "silver" GreenChill certificate by meeting tough benchmarks for cutting emissions that harm the earth’s protective ozone layer and contribute to global warming.

"Only a handful of American supermarkets have achieved GreenChill status. To meet these high standards, both stores reduced their refrigerant charges by more than 50%," Weis VP store construction and development Kevin Small said. "We will continue to invest in programs and systems that help us reduce our overall environmental impact throughout our store base."

To achieve silver certification, a store must meet stringent environmental criteria, including the following:

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  Use refrigerants that do not damage the Earth’s protective ozone layer;

  
  


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  Reduce the size of its refrigerant charge by at least 50% from the industry average;

  
  


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  Reduce annual refrigerant emissions to 15% or less of total store capacity; and

  
  


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  Test refrigeration systems for adherence to GreenChill’s leak tightness guidelines.