Every new Wegmans Food Market – and more than a third of the chain’s total of 71 stores – uses environmentally-friendly glycol in coolers that helps reduce the stores’ carbon footprints while protecting the ozone layer. The non-polluting secondary refrigerant is food grade glycol, and Wegmans has been the supermarket industry’s leader in expanding its use in refrigeration systems since the Rochester, N.Y.-based company first introduced it in its Pittsford, NY store more than 10 years ago.

“We’ve calculated the environmental gains from using glycol in our cooling systems, and are very encouraged,” said Carol Duquette, VP of Design Services and Maintenance. Over one year’s time, at a single store, using glycol instead of R-404a (an industry standard) eliminates 2,376 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions sent into the atmosphere, the equivalent of:

· Removing 435 cars from roadways and

· Removing the power draw of 315 homes from the electrical grid

Traditionally, R-404a circulates through pipes to medium temperature cases (such as the dairy case) throughout the store. However in this updated system, R-404a is used only in compressors on the rooftop of the store and non-toxic glycol circulates throughout the piping in the store. The stores use less refrigerant and there are fewer opportunities for leaks. Wegmans’ use of glycol came about when the company was searching for a coolant that was better for the environment than CFC (chlorofluorocarbons) or HCFC (hydrochlorofluorcarbons). Using glycol dramatically reduces the need to rely on these.

Among the many reasons to use glycol, Wegmans has found the following most important.

· By switching to a glycol/R-404a system, there is significantly less negative impact on the ozone layer.

· It is non-toxic and safe to use in confined areas (walk-in coolers).

· It has the greatest effect on reducing greenhouse gas emissions of all Wegmans environmental initiatives, because it reduces use of standard refrigerants (CFC’s and HCFC’s).

Today, glycol is used in 25 out of Wegmans’ 71 stores. Over time, all Wegmans stores are expected to keep their cool by switching over to glycol or similar environmentally-friendly refrigerant solutions that improve sustainability and energy efficiency.