Grocery Outlet
At a Glance
Industry
Retail and Apparel
Project Types
Clean and Renewable Energy, Commercial Energy Efficiency, Engagement and Behavior Change, Sustainability and Energy Management Strategy
Year
2017
Location
Emeryville, CA
Summary
Doug Perry helped Grocery Outlet communicate about its sustainability strategy as well as quantify the environmental and cost savings of current and future projects.
Goals
Grocery Outlet, the nation’s largest extreme value grocery retailer, wanted to improve the environmental performance of its nearly 300 stores scattered across the west coast. To do so, three goals were set: accelerate energy efficiency and cost savings initiatives, build a sustainability strategy framework and communicate about work in energy efficiency to stakeholders. EDF Climate Corps fellow Doug Perry was brought in to help evaluate and execute the installation of Stem and Viking Cold Storage systems in southern California stores, create a sustainability mission statement and craft a customer focused marketing campaign.
Solutions
Perry coordinated with Stem to create a customized analysis complete with potential savings opportunities for each of Grocery Outlet’s independent stores. To guide communications about its integrated strategy, he created a sustainability statement.
Grocery Outlet had also invested in energy efficiency projects, but hadn’t publicized the progress externally. Perry gathered and analyzed energy data for each store, including investments in lighting, HVAC and refrigeration installations. Having this data, he quantified the environmental and economic impact that had already been made, and identified opportunities for future investments and savings across the portfolio of stores. Recommendations included continuing to install energy efficiency equipment, retrofitting stores and implementing tracking and goal setting processes using Energy Star’s, GreenChill.
To publicize the company’s progress in energy efficiency investments, Perry created in-store signage that can be used to educate customers about its sustainability achievements.
Potential Impact
The Stem and Viking Cold Storage installations will shift energy demand off-peak at stores, saving an average of $2,554/year. The initiatives already in place save an estimated 27 million kilowatt-hours and $3.4 million every year, averaging at $11,258 per store per year.