How one retail chain saved $20,000 annually by turning to energy efficiency. By Ali Farsai, Contributing Editor Our family has been in the gas station and convenience store business for over 25 years and the past few years, as we are all painfully aware, business has been down. We have had to think “outside the…
Food Lion Stores Receive LEED Silver Certification
Two green grocery stores in Fayetteville, N.C., recognized by U.S. Green Building Council. Two Food Lion grocery stores in North Carolina have been awarded LEED Silver certification. Food Lion stores at 1738 Bingham Drive and 5555 Waldos Beach Road, both in Fayetteville, N.C., feature environmentally-friendly construction and energy-efficient services, including an on-site recycling center, an…
Remote Monitoring
Milton, Del.-based Wilson Baker Inc. has installed Gilbarco Veeder-Root’s Wisdom Intelligent Device Management (IDM) Systems at two of its seven sites. The systems help the company remotely monitor coolers, heating, air conditioning, lighting, and other devices to manage energy consumption, overall operations costs, and proactively address potential problems before they impact profitability. “Wisdom provides a…
Kroger Makes Strides In Sustainability
The company’s 2010 Sustainability Report, recently published online, shows the company has reduced overall energy consumption by more than 27%, and includes updates in four core areas: —Reducing its carbon footprint, especially by decreasing energy usage; —Eliminating and recycling waste including reducing plastic bag use; —Lowering the impact of…
Empowered by Energy Efficiency
With energy costs soaring and customers rewarding sustainable behaviors, many convenience store chains are realizing the need to upgrade stores to be more energy efficient. World marketed energy consumption is projected to increase by 44% from 2006 to 2030, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The increase could hit c-store retailers especially hard…
Summer Fuel Outlook
By Brian L. Milne, Refined Fuels Editor, Telvent DTN Understanding the market movements for energy commodities in 2009 has become complicated. The old way of looking at the market through the lens of supply and demand seems to hold less relevance. Now, broad-based economic indicators are overruling an inventory buildup or a slump in demand.…
Cooler Control
Operators looking for greater energy efficiency should cast an eye on their coolers, where centralized controls, lighting adjustments, basic ongoing maintenance and employee training can save them money. “Coolers are typically an opportunity for improvements in maintenance and operational practices,” said Jerry Lawson, national manager for Energy Star Small Business and Congregations Network, a division…