New Weiss Markets stores will reduce refrigeration charge by 50%

Hanover, Pa. Weis Markets announced it is in the process of building three stores in Pennsylvania that will incorporate technologies and systems reducing store refrigerant charges (usage) to 50% less than a typical supermarket, thus decreasing their impact on the ozone layer and climate change.

The announcement was made at an award ceremony at a Weis Markets store in Hanover, Pa. It was the first supermarket in the state of Pennsylvania to earn a certification award from the GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership, a voluntary Environmental Protection Agency alliance with food retailers to reduce refrigerant emissions. The store attained a "silver" certificate by installing a glycol refrigeration system reducing the refrigerant charge to less than half that of a typical supermarket.

"Reducing the environmental impact of our stores is a key part of being a good neighbor and we are committed to doing so in the years ahead," said Kevin Small, VP construction and development, Weis Markets, which operates 164 stores in Pennsylvania; Maryland; New York; New Jersey; and West Virginia. "As a long-time proponent of sustainability and recycling, we have embraced the next generation of technology that will allow us to reduce our carbon footprint and operate our stores more efficiently. We plan for these three new stores to achieve GreenChill certification."