GreenChill is a cool award to win

A new Target store in San Clemente, Calif., was the recipient of a GreenChill GOLD award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. There are a lot of certifications and awards being handed out these days in the world of sustainability, but what makes EPA’s GreenChill GOLD award noteworthy is that the Target store is only the 27th retail location to earn the distinction.

Target snagged the award by adopting green refrigeration technology – a change that benefits both Target and the surrounding community – by reducing the overall amount of refrigerants and the amount of harmful refrigerants.

“Fewer than 1% of all food retail stores in the nation have received GreenChill’s Store Certification for environmentally friendlier refrigeration. With this award, Target joins an elite group of environmental leaders,” said Keilly Witman, EPA’s GreenChill program manager.

In addition to reducing refrigerant emissions, Target said new and remodeled stores will use energy-efficient refrigerated cases with LED lighting, anti-sweat controls and motion-sensor technology. The result is up to a 75% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions compared to the average supermarket.

In addition to GreenChill, Target is part of EPA’s SmartWay program aimed at reducing transportation-related emissions and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Retail Energy Alliance. The company is also a founding member of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition that was announced earlier this year. Target also plans to earn the EPA’s Energy Star for at least 75% of U.S. buildings by 2016.