Price Chopper Unveils Green Initiatives

Schenectady, N.Y. Price Chopper announced Friday that it is continuing the company’s green focus by engaging in two eco-friendly building projects and an energy-awareness campaign.

In addition to a previously announced partnership with commercial-refrigeration systems manufacturer Hill Phoenix on the design and installation of the first next-generation CO2 refrigeration system in North America at a newly remodeled store in Saratoga Springs, N.Y., Price Chopper said it has other environmentally friendly irons in the fire.

Other green programs under way at Price Chopper include:

• A continuous improvement effort that has led to a reduction in lighting and oven usage overnight, reduced neon signage, lighting and fan retrofits, excess spotlight removal, motion-sensor installations, and an ongoing chainwide energy awareness campaign;

• A new Colonie, N.Y., store will be the first silver level LEED-certified supermarket in New York State;

• The company’s new main office complex in downtown Schenectady will incorporate recycled materials, daylight harvesting, raised flooring to allow for more efficient installation of electrical and HVAC components, energy-management controls, rainwater harvesting for irrigation, fuel cells to supplement power from the grid, and photovoltaics as it pursues gold-level LEED certification.