An approaching shift in refrigerants for heat pumps and air-conditioning systems will have far-reaching implications for restaurant and retail operators, potentially delaying the availability of new equipment, replacement parts and access to the service providers needed to install or repair them. “In the months before a rule change like this, everybody starts to scramble to get ready,” says John Brightwell, regional project manager at facilities repair service provider MaintenX. “We’ve budgeted for this and have adjusted our equipment, tools and training to install and service the new systems; but if …
green building/LEED
Salisbury, N.C. — With a $365 million capital investment, Food Lion has enhanced the customer shopping experience with remodeled stores in the greater Raleigh-Durham, N.C., area and Mecklenburg County, Va. On Aug. 21, Food Lion will hold ribbon-cutting events at 167 stores in the greater Raleigh-Durham market, which is among the fastest growing areas nationwide. Nearly all stores are introducing self-checkout lanes, allowing customers to choose between traditional cashier-assisted checkout or self-checkout options. Additionally, Food Lion continues to invest in training and developing associates to provide the best customer experience. …
San Francisco — Williams-Sonoma, Inc. has published its 2023 Impact Report. The annual report highlights Williams-Sonoma, Inc.’s progress towards the company’s industry-leading sustainability and social impact goals. In 2023, Williams-Sonoma, Inc. focused on operational efficiencies and the adoption of innovative solutions to drive progress towards the company’s sustainability goals. The company also launched GreenRow, a new sustainability-focused home furnishings brand and strengthened commitments to worker wellbeing programs that positively impact communities around the world where Williams-Sonoma, Inc. business is conducted. “The progress we have made towards our sustainability goals reflects …
Nashville, Tenn. — REI Co-op’s newest distribution center in Lebanon, Tenn., has earned the prestigious LEED v4 Platinum Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. This achievement marks the first certified facility of its kind in Tennessee and the largest LEED Platinum industrial building in the Southeast. REI joins an elite group of only 10 warehouse facilities in the country to achieve this rating. REI’s Lebanon distribution center attainment of LEED v4 Platinum certification in the industrial sector demonstrates the co-op’s commitment to addressing the climate crisis through responsible and …
Campbell, Calif. — ChargePoint, a leading provider of networked charging solutions for electric vehicles (EVs), and global innovator LG Electronics (LG) have formed a strategic partnership to leverage their respective strengths for future innovations in EV charging. LG’s U.S.-made EV chargers are UL-certified for charging stability and ENERGY STAR® certified for efficiency. These chargers will be paired with ChargePoint’s cloud software. The first output of this relationship will be commercial charging solutions that encompass ChargePoint’s charger management software and LG’s EV charging hardware, with deliveries expected to begin later this …
— By Ron Prager — HVAC: Major changes in the industry have arrived. There are major changes occurring in the HVAC industry and they are going to affect both HVAC contractors and end users in a significant way. We anticipate that these changes will also impact building codes, cost of construction and cost of equipment installation. Some of what is presented below is established fact and some is based on my best guess as to what we believe the impacts will be. I will identify which items fall into which …
Restaurant Technologies Recycles Record Amount of Used Cooking Oil in 2023
Minneapolis — Restaurant Technologies broke its own sustainability record by recycling and converting more than 314 million pounds of used cooking oil (UCO) into renewable diesel or biodiesel in 2023, breaking the record set in 2022 by 25 million pounds. The company continues to help its 40,000 customers nationwide be more sustainable and reach their Environmental, Social, Governance (ESG) goals to create a cleaner, more livable planet. With the support of renewable energy partners such as Chevron Renewable Energy Group, Restaurant Technologies converts 100% of UCO collected into renewable diesel …
ITW Food Equipment Group Earns 2024 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award
Glenview, Ill. — ITW Food Equipment Group has received the 2024 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The Sustained Excellence award is the highest honor among ENERGY STAR awards. This year marks the 17th consecutive year ITW Food Equipment Group has been recognized as an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year and 15th consecutive year receiving the Sustained Excellence award. “The development of energy-efficient products is an absolute priority for our brands …
Starbucks Announces 6,000 Greener Stores Worldwide
Seattle — Starbucks has certified 6,091 Greener Stores, nearly doubling its portfolio in the past year, and a milestone achievement toward the company’s goal of certifying 10,000 Greener Stores globally by 2025. In markets around the world, Greener Stores’ energy and water savings and waste diversion help advance the company’s goal to reduce carbon emissions, water usage and landfill waste by 50% by 2030. The company has Greener Stores in 44 markets with new markets including India, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam, Bahrain, Italy, …
Slash Costs with Better Facility Maintenance
It’s another thing for restaurant operators to worry about: all the costs of doing business, including food, rent, labor and energy are increasing, according to the National Restaurant Association’s 2024 State of the Restaurant Industry survey, released in February. It’s bad news for any business operating on razor-thin margins. Restaurant operators complain that they have little control over food and rent costs, while the need to remain competitive often blocks operators from making cuts in staffing and food. The situation forces restaurant owners, and other businesses such as retail, to …