Food Lion gets EPA nod for energy efficiency

Salisbury-based Food Lion is among six North Carolina businesses and organizations recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for improving energy efficiency in all their buildings by at least 20 percent.

Food Lion was the only North Carolina business to achieve Energy Star Leader status. All the others in this state were school systems in Burke County, Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Nash-Rocky Mount, Wayne County and Yadkin County.

According to the EPA, Energy Star Leaders must meet one of two energy efficiency improvement milestones. The first milestone requires a 10 percent improvement in energy performance across their entire building portfolio. Subsequent recognition is given for each 10 percent improvement thereafter.

The second milestone, known as “top performer,” requires that an organization’s buildings, on average, perform in the top 25 percent when compared to similar buildings nationwide. To be eligible for Energy Star Leaders recognition, organizations are required to track and submit energy performance data for all buildings and fuel sources through EPA’s Energy Star Portfolio Manager tool.

Nationally, EPA’s Energy Star program has helped 90 organizations by providing them with a proven energy management strategy, which includes a focus on ongoing performance measurement and whole-building improvement.

Energy Star Leaders have cumulatively saved more than $150 million on utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas emissions equal to the electricity used by nearly 95,000 homes, the EPA said.

The complete list of Energy Star Leaders numbers more than 200 organizations including school districts, national retailers, commercial real estate companies, health care systems, supermarket operators and hotel managers that have achieved energy efficiency improvements across more than 11,400 buildings covering nearly 730 million square feet in the U.S.

To see the list as of Dec. 31, go to www.energystar.gov/ia/business/leaders/Leaders_full_list_2011.pdf?2758-99c7

For more about the program, go to www.energystar.gov/leaders