EPA honors Publix for sustainable refrigeration excellence

Lakeland, Fla. -- Publix on Monday was honored with three awards from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) GreenChill Partnership, including its Store Certification Excellence 2013-2014, and two Store Re-Certification Excellence Awards 2009-2014.



Publix earned the Store Certification Excellence award for achieving 26 GreenChill store certifications in the past year. Two Publix stores have achieved GreenChill Certification for five consecutive years and are being honored with the Store Re-Certification Excellence award.



“We’re committed to reducing our carbon footprint and our dedication is reaffirmed with our numerous store certifications in one year and our investment in more sustainable equipment including refrigeration systems,” said Maria Brous, Publix director of media and community relations.



Publix is a founding partner of GreenChill, an EPA partnership with food retailers to reduce refrigerant emissions and decrease their impact on the ozone layer and climate change. The grocer has certified 26 stores in the past year, including 24 silver certifications and two gold certifications.



To qualify for GreenChill's Store Certification, a store must meet specific criteria including:



• The store must only use refrigerants with zero ozone-depleting potential.



• The store must only use refrigerants that have been found acceptable by EPA's Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) Program for use in retail food.



• The store must achieve a store-wide annual refrigerant emissions rate of 15% or less.



• All newly constructed stores must also be leak tight at installation to prevent against future refrigerant leaks.