EL SEGUNDO, CA – Fresh & Easy Neighborhood Market has joined the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership, voluntarily committing to reduce refrigerant emissions to minimize the impact on climate change and protect the ozone layer.

"EPA is very proud to welcome Fresh & Easy into the GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership," said Keilly Witman of EPA's Stratospheric Protection Division. "Since the program's inception a year and a half ago, GreenChill's partners have proven themselves to be leaders in reducing supermarkets' effect on the ozone layer and climate change. Fresh & Easy is a welcome addition to that effort."

According to GreenChill, the industry average for refrigerant leakage is 25%. Fresh & Easy’s current leak rate is well under 10% due to advanced refrigeration technologies and the company’s use of a refrigeration system alarm center and leak detection program to actively monitor and respond to refrigerant leaks quickly.

In addition to Fresh & Easy’s efforts to reduce refrigerant emissions, the company also stresses energy efficiency. Energy efficient characteristics of the company’s refrigeration units include:

• Energy efficient doors on freezer and dairy doors. Utilizing triple pain glass with an anti-fog coating which eliminates the need for door heaters for icing or fogging.
• Refrigeration cases use night curtains to conserve energy while ensuring the food stays at the appropriate temperature when the stores are closed.
• LED lighting in the freezer and diary cases.

By being thoughtful in how we operate all parts of our business, we’ve been able to make a significant difference in our overall environmental impact,” said Fresh & Easy CEO Tim Mason. “We are always looking for ways to reduce our carbon footprint – from energy efficient refrigeration units to skylight in stores to our solar panel installation on our distribution center.”