Rabbitt Announces New Initiative To Help Grocers Go Green

March 8, 2011

Assemblywoman Annie Rabbitt (R,C,I-Greenwood Lake) is announcing a new statewide effort to help local grocery stores go green. The “Green Grocer” initiative, sponsored by the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), provides grocers, supermarkets, food co-ops and convenience stores with technical assistance to help them go green.

“This new program offers grocers industry-specific advice on how they can reduce their energy costs, save money and contribute to a greener local environment,” said the assemblywoman. “I strongly encourage everyone to participate in this program.”

According to recent studies, refrigeration accounts for at least 53 percent of a grocery store’s energy use. Through a partnership with NYSERDA, technical consultants will offer advice on energy-efficiency solutions, including upgrades or replacement refrigeration equipment, coolers and cases, which can save grocers between 10 and 30 percent of their current energy use. Additionally, NYSERDA can help grocers afford the purchase and/or installation of more efficient or renewable upgrades through existing incentive programs. Last year, existing NYSERDA programs helped reduce operating costs for participating businesses by $40 million statewide.

Assemblywoman Rabbitt has long supported “green” efforts, including her Buy Local-Shop Local initiative. She said, “Programs like ‘Green Grocers’ help keep our mom-and-pop stores up and running. They save the business money, help modernize and improve the stores, and those savings can be passed along to consumers. At the very least, it helps keep our Main Street businesses alive, and I strongly encourage every grocer in Orange and Rockland counties to contact NYSERDA about this new program.”

To apply or learn more about Green Grocer, please call NYSERDA’s Green Grocer hotline at 1-866-904-8027, or e-mail them.

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