Ahold USA Recognized by EPA for Leading Green Power Purchases

Ahold USA Green Power Purchases support renewable energy via EPA-recognized solar, wind, and fuel cell investments, cutting CO2 emissions, improving energy efficiency, and expanding clean power across stores, distribution centers, and offices.

Ahold USA announced today that for the first time it appears on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's EPA's list of the largest green power purchases. The company ranks No. 7 on the EPA's Top 20 Retail list and No. 30 on the National Top 50 list. Ahold USA is purchasing more than 149 million kilowatt-hours kWh of green power annually, which is enough green power to meet 7 percent of the organization's electricity use. Ahold USA is buying renewable energy certificates RECs from 3Degrees. In addition, Ahold USA is generating green power from its on-site renewable energy systems which demonstrates a proactive choice to switch away from traditional sources of electricity generation and support cleaner renewable energy alternatives.

"Reducing our carbon footprint is a primary tenet of Ahold USA's main corporate responsibility priorities, and like other retailers boosting profits by going green we aim to minimize our impact on the environment while at the same time making operations more efficient," said Jihad Rizkallah, vice president of store planning for Ahold USA. "Being recognized by the EPA for our green power purchases highlights our on-going efforts and commitment to reduce our electricity consumption and expand our renewable and clean energy portfolio."

The EPA recently updated each of its National Top Partner lists, highlighting some of America's largest green power purchasers as more giant retailers turn to solar to meet sustainability goals. Each list highlights EPA Green Power Partners that have completed the largest annual voluntary purchases through January 5, 2012. For access to the EPA Green Power Top Partner ranking, visit www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/top50.htm. Green power is electricity that is generated from environmentally preferable renewable resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, biomass, and low-impact hydro. Purchases of green power help accelerate the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the power sector.

"EPA is excited to welcome Ahold USA as a Green Power Partner and congratulates them on making the list of the Top 50 largest green power purchases," said Blaine Collison, Director of EPA's Green Power Partnership. "By opting to purchase renewable energy, and following examples like Whole Foods using wind power Ahold USA is helping to grow the nation's green power market while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution."

According to the U.S. EPA, Ahold USA's green power purchase of more than 149 million kWh is equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide CO2 emissions of more than 20,000 passenger vehicles per year, while AEP moves to buy Ohio solar power to further decarbonize the grid, or the CO2 emissions from the electricity use of nearly 13,000 average American homes annually.

From stores to distribution centers and corporate support offices, the company has a strong focus on greener efforts. Its newest stores are built with innovative green building technologies that reduce energy consumption, similar to Wal-Mart's green demonstration store approaches adopted across the industry, conserve water and reduce the environmental impact of operations. Ahold USA also continues to help its retail divisions make existing stores more energy efficient by utilizing energy efficient light bulbs, turning lights down during off hours, a step seen as Walmart Canada moves toward zero emissions through operational improvements, improving the efficiency of refrigerated display cases and installing smaller cooling systems by replacing open frozen food cases with closed door cases.

Ahold USA has been developing its renewable and clean energy portfolio since 2008. Roof-mounted solar photovoltaic systems at thirteen Stop & Shop stores generate between 7 and 10 percent of the stores' annual electricity requirements, reflecting how Wal-Mart goes solar across markets as well. In addition to solar power, the Ahold USA team worked with its New England division to construct their first fuel cell project at a Stop & Shop in Torrington, CT, which consumes natural gas to produce electricity and waste heat. The electricity being generated provides 95 percent of the store's annual electricity requirements and the waste heat offsets the gas consumption required to heat the air and hot water for the store.

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