By upgrading over 8,000 existing light fixtures with energy efficient lighting Spartan Stores Inc. has reduced its electrical consumption by more than 4,360,000 kilowatt-hours annually. This, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency translates to an annual pollution reduction of 10,500,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, 39,000,000 grams of sulfur dioxide, and 19,000,000 grams of nitrogen oxide.
Spartan Stores Inc. has also been promoting energy efficiency to its independent retailers and has helped these grocery stores reduced their electrical consumption by more than 6,000,000 kilowatt-hours annually. This according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency translates to an annual pollution reduction of 14,500,000 pounds of carbon dioxide, 54,000,000 grams of sulfur dioxide, and 26,500,000 grams of nitrogen oxide. Many independent retailers have also introduced a variety of energy efficiency measures on their refrigeration equipment.
Not only will the upgrade conserve energy and natural resources it will also improve the grocery shopping environment. The new lights provide full spectrum, color corrected light. The light is more natural and color balanced with less glare resulting in less eyestrain and a more natural shopping environment.
The process by which energy-efficient lighting reduces pollution is simple. Lighting accounts for 20-25 percent of all electricity used annually in the United States. Generating electricity involves the burning of fossil fuels, or running reactors, or hydroelectric plants. These processes often result in various types of pollution, including acid mine drainage, natural gas leakage, toxic waste, and air pollutants. When less energy is used to light offices and other buildings less electricity is required to be generated reducing the amount of pollution.
These improvements achieved by Spartan Stores on our environment are the equivalent of removing 2,500 automobiles from our roads. Learn more at www.spartanstores.com