Albertsons’- one of the first fuel cell stores operating on the west coast

On Friday, May 6, 2011 – ALBERTSONS’ Clairemont, CA. store, became one of the first fuel cell operating stores on the west coast. Part of the nationwide SUPERVALU® family of grocery stores, they were presented, the 2011 Sustainable Project of the Year award, by the Association for Retail Environments (A.R. E.).

Albertsons – 5 steps to award achievement

ALBERTSONS’ Clairemont store (in Fullerton), received this honor for its “clearly defined integrated design approach, high benchmarking goals, and waste reduction features.”  The 55,000 square-foot grocery store, officially opened on September 1, 2010, and was built to LEED Silver specifications. The many sustainable features built in this store,  include: 1) Highly efficient LED lighting, in the dairy and frozen food cases that reduce energy consumption by more than 50 to 65 percent. Second on the list, there are photo sensors, in 33 skylights that measure the amount of daylight that enters the store from the skylights,  and adjust the electric light levels accordingly, saving energy.  Then there are night curtains, that are pulled over all open cold cases in the evening to seal in cool air and reduce spoilage and energy costs by up to 25 percent.  Water-saving faucets and fixtures installed in the restrooms, help to reduce the amount of water used by more than 45 percent.  Fifth on the list, a Glycol secondary refrigeration system, that minimizes refrigerant change, achieving Greenchill Gold certification, from EPA.

Albertsons’ fuel cell powering system

Another environmental “first” for this store, is the on-site co-generation fuel cell powering system.  Nearly 90 percent of the Clairemont store’s electricity is powered by a PureCell® Model 400 System, a 400-kilowatt fuel cell from UTC Power, a Connecticut-based company that is a fuel cell pioneer.

Fuel cells, are one of the cleanest and quietest on site power generating technologies available in the world today. Highly energy efficient, and virtually pollution-free, the PureCell System, produces electricity through an electrochemical process. Its byproduct thermal energy is used for hot water, heating and refrigeration, resulting in an overall energy efficiency of approximately 60 percent.  That’s nearly twice the efficiency, of the U.S. electrical grid. By generating most of its power onsite, ALBERTSONS is able to reduce the burden on the local power grid, and its impact on the environment.

The Clairemont Albertsons store, also received high marks, for its waste reduction initiatives. Aiming for zero-waste classification, the store instituted an aggressive recycling program in lieu of trash compactors, established new operational procedures and educated the store team on how to best implement them. With excess product donated to a local food bank, ALBERTSONS Fresh Rescue recycling program, helps the store come close to this goal.

“The only competition focused on sustainable retail design, the A.R.E. Sustainability Awards honors retail projects for outstanding green building achievement,” commented A.R.E’s Sustainability & Design Programs Manager Jo Rossman, LEED, AP, GPAP.  “The Project of the Year must not only demonstrate that it’s exceptional in three areas of green building, but meet industry standards of aesthetic and functional design. The ALBERTSONS Clairemont team wowed the judges with its holistic achievement.”

“We’re very proud to receive this A.R.E. recognition,” emphasized ALBERTSONS Southern California Division President Sue Klug. “From its inception, the goal was to provide our Clairemont customers with a redesigned store format that not only expanded our service departments but afforded them a shopping environment where our carbon footprint was minimized from floor to ceiling.  And from the positive feedback we’re receiving, no doubt it was the right thing to do. Our Clairemont customers appreciate shopping at a store that is demonstrating its commitment to the environment through word and deed.”

The A.R.E. is a Hollywood, Fla. based non-profit trade association representing the retail environments industry. Its mission is to advance the success of its 600+ membership companies involved in importing, exporting, consolidating, installing, project management, and engineering design. Membership includes store fixture suppliers, retail design firms, visual merchandising products suppliers as well as material and equipment suppliers for the retail environments industry.

About ALBERTSONS
ALBERTSONS is part of the SUPERVALU family of grocery stores. ALBERTSONS was founded in 1939 and currently operates 453 Albertsons and Lucky supermarkets in Southern California, Southern Nevada, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.  SUPERVALU, INC. is one of the largest companies in the U.S. grocery channel with estimated annual sales of $38 billion.  SUPERVALU serves customers across the United States through a network of approximately 4,290 stores composed of approximately 1,160 traditional and premium stores, including 786 in-store pharmacies; 1,194 hard discount Save-A-Lot stores, of which 869 are operated by licensee owners; and 1,940 independent stores serviced primarily by the company’s traditional food distribution business. SUPERVALU has approximately 155,000 employees. For more information about Albertsons, visit their web site at www.albertsons.com.