TAMPA, FLA – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized Sweetbay Supermarket with ENERGY STAR certification for continued energy consumption reductions, as well as a strong corporate commitment to promoting superior energy performance. Of the more than 1,570 grocery stores acknowledged by the EPA for earning ENERGY STAR labels for superior energy efficiency, only 170 were actually awarded certification. More than half of all Sweetbay stores were represented with 53 making the cut for EPA ENERGY STAR Certification.
“We are thrilled we will receive ENERGY STAR certification for our stores and are committed to being strong corporate citizens in the communities in which we operate,” said John Turner, director of Business Development for Sweetbay Supermarket. “Sweetbay remains dedicated to environmental stewardship and is proud to continue to lead the way with energy conservation initiatives.”
Sweetbay began its energy savings initiatives in 2009 and, in electric costs alone, has already seen a $5 million savings. From doors on refrigerated cases to the addition of LED lighting with motion sensors, to night shades over non-door cases, this 18 percent reduction in energy costs equates to the equivalence of reducing carbon emissions by 32 million pounds, planting 4,427 acres of trees, powering 1,456 American homes for one year or taking 3,232 cars off the road.
Additional efforts are planned for 2012 including additional LED lighting, doors on additional medium temperature cases and also on produce cases.
For more information, please visit www.sweetbaysupermarket.com.
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants associated with energy use. Today, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 60 kinds of products as well as new homes and buildings. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved $18 billion on their utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas equivalent to those of 34 million cars. Products, homes and buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR prevent emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the EPA. For more information, go to www.energystar.gov.
About Sweetbay Supermarket
Sweetbay Supermarket provides a one-of-a-kind shopping experience, built from the ground up and developed from research in core markets to express the vibrant, exciting and diverse tastes, colors and aromas of food important to Floridians. Sweetbay offers outstanding value, quality and variety, routinely partnering with Florida growers, to bring shoppers the freshest food available in the state. Sweetbay Supermarket was launched in November 2004 in Largo and is headquartered in Tampa. Sweetbay has 105 stores in Florida. For more information, go to www.sweetbaysupermarket.com.
Source: Sweetbay Supermarket
