EPA honors Food Lion associate

SALISBURY, N.C. — An associate at Food Lion has been honored by the Environmental Protection Agency for his efforts to reduce the chain’s refrigerant emissions.



Nick Cordasci has earned the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's 2014 Distinguished Partner Achievement Award, one of the agency's individual honors for commercial refrigeration achievements, by the GreenChill Partnership.



The agency specifically recognized Cordasci, who is Food Lion's refrigerant compliance specialist, for being its liaison and making sure Food Lion continued to be a sustainability leader in the grocer industry. The award goes to the individual or organization that has demonstrated extraordinary leadership and initiative in achieving GreenChill's mission in the past year.



"Food Lion is being recognized with the Distinguished Partner award for the energetic involvement of its refrigerant compliance specialist, Nick Cordasci," said Tom Land, GreenChill manager.



Cordasci has provided leadership in developing and implementing effective corporate refrigerant management plans at Food Lion, Land said, and also been instrumental in the company's efforts to reduce refrigerant emissions. Food Lion has reduced its refrigerant emissions rate for four consecutive years.



Food Lion has pioneered various technologies that save energy and reduce harmful refrigerant leaks, from GreenChill's partnership to building two Leadership in LEED) Energy and Environmental Design certified stores,  in North Carolina and South Carolina.



"We are proud of Nick and his accomplishments because this award shows his continued dedication and commitment to the company's sustainability efforts," said Susan Sollenberger, director of energy, maintenance and equipment purchasing at Delhaize America South, which includes Food Lion stores.



Food Lion has more than half of the nation's Energy Star stores, with more than 980 certified stores. In addition, the company has partnered with utilities to evaluate a variety of energy saving opportunities.



Food Lion has more than 1,100 stores in 10 Southeastern and Mid-Atlantic states.



EPA's GreenChill Partnership works with supermarkets to reduce refrigerant emissions and decrease their impact on the ozone layer and climate change.