Price Chopper opens environmentally friendly store in upstate New York

SCHENECTADY, N.Y. A supermarket chain in the Northeast has opened a new store with environmental features that it calls “unmatched in the industry.”

Price Chopper Supermarkets announced the opening of a 69,000 sq.-ft. store and pharmacy at 1892 Central Ave. in Colonie, N.Y. The company said the store was designed to meet the requirements of Leadership in Energy Efficient Design certification.

“This revolutionary new store represents several of our major corporate commitments: our commitment to our hometown capital region, our commitment to reducing our energy usage and investing in sustainable and renewable technology, as well as our commitment to provide value to our customers with an extensive selection of locally grown and produced products, natural and organic products, unique specialty and imported products, and signature fresh and packaged Price Chopper and Central Market brand products, in addition to an unparalleled kosher foods offer,” Price Chopper said.

The store is one of four in the country to receive the highest level of GreenChill certification from the Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership. The EPA awards the certification to encourage the use of refrigeration technologies that reduce greenhouse and ozone-depleting gases.

“Only three other stores in the nation have achieved gold-level certification and, of the four, Price Chopper’s new Colonie store has the highest rating,” EPA GreenChill program head Keilly Witman said. “Price Chopper customers and associates should be proud of this level of achievement from the store.”

The store, which the company said would serve as a prototype for future stores, will derive 60% of its electricity from fuel cells, which will also provide power in case of a power failure.

Other initiatives will include recycling more than 75% of construction waste, using natural lighting, using environmentally friendly building materials and recycling heat.