WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the supermarket, refrigeration equipment, and refrigerant industries have launched the new GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership, a voluntary program to promote green technologies, strategies, and practices that reduce greenhouse gases and save money.

“As Americans make greener choices, we look for companies that support a greener lifestyle,” said Robert J. Meyers, principal deputy assistant administrator of EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “The GreenChill logo is a clear sign of a supermarket’s environmental commitment. It shows that GreenChill members are doing their utmost to save the ozone layer.”

The 10 GreenChill founding partners are: Whole Foods Market, Food Lion LLC, Giant Eagle Inc., Hannaford Bros. Co., Harris Teeter, Hill PHOENIX, Honeywell International, Kysor/Warren, Publix Super Markets Inc., and DuPont.

These partners, as well as those in the future, must pledge to go above and beyond regulatory requirements by establishing an inventory of current refrigerant emissions that may affect climate change and the stratospheric ozone layer, and then setting reduction targets for these emissions. Partners will also participate in an industry/government research initiative to assess the performance of cutting edge green technologies in terms of energy efficiency, reduction of ozone-depleting refrigerant charges, and minimization of refrigerant leaks.

As an example of GreenChill Partnership initiatives that decrease the impact of supermarkets on climate change, EPA estimates that widespread adoption of advanced refrigeration technologies, best practices, and improved equipment design and service could reduce refrigerant emissions by one million metric tons of carbon equivalent per year, the equivalent of taking 800,000 automobiles off the road every year.

To counteract the depletion of stratospheric ozone, partners guarantee to use only ozone-friendly alternatives and advanced refrigeration technologies in all new and remodeled stores. EPA believes that GreenChill partners’ adoption of advanced refrigeration technologies will lead to increased energy efficiency and reduce operating expenses for the industry by more than $12 million annually.

For more information on the GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership, visit www.epa.gov/ozone/partnerships/greenchill.

Publication date: 12/03/2007