Weis Markets Thursday announced its new Selinsgrove store has received  a Gold level, GreenChill certification from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for reducing in-store refrigerant usage by more than 60 percent.

GreenChill is an EPA partnership with food retailers to reduce refrigerant emissions and decrease their impact on the ozone layer and climate change. This is the 12th store in the Weis Markets chain to be awarded a Green Chill certification from the EPA. 

The new Selinsgrove store, which opened in August, incorporates advanced refrigeration and climate control technologies designed to lessen the store’s impact on the environment and reduce the store’s refrigerant use to 50 percent less than that of a typical supermarket. 

The store has other sustainable features which reduce its impact on the environment including polished concrete floors, LED refrigerated cases, energy efficient skylights, motion sensors and low flow water fixtures. The store also diverts and composts its food waste.

“We are committed to reducing our environmental impact in the communities we serve,” said R. Kevin Small, Weis Markets’ Vice President, Construction and Development.  “The Green Chill certification is an acknowledgement of the work and commitment of our store and development associates who helped us implement and monitor our program to reduce refrigerant usage in our Selinsgrove store. As part of this effort, we’ve installed more efficient refrigeration and frozen cases, which has reduced our store’s reliance on ozone depleting refrigerants by 60 percent.” 

Since 2008, Weis Markets has reduced its overall carbon footprint by 15 percent. In 2014, it recycled 30,000 tons of waste in 2014, including more than 20,000  tons of cardboard and over  1,600,000  pounds of plastic bags and film plastics.

For more information, visit Weis Markets Sustainability webpage.

2/9/2015