Ahold USA, Bluestone Energy Continue Conservation Moves

Ahold USA and Bluestone Energy Services LLC have revealed plans to continue and strengthen their relationship. The two companies teamed to lower the grocer's energy consumption across hundreds of Stop & Shop, Giant Landover and Giant/Martin's supermarkets, resulting in a smaller overall carbon footprint for Ahold USA, in addition to a considerable reduction in energy costs passed onto customers.

Last year, Bluestone's supermarket division completed comprehensive energy efficiency projects at Ahold USA stores, such as upgrading all of the interior lighting to high-efficiency LED lighting with advanced wireless controls, thereby reducing the locations' lighting consumption by more than 70 percent. As well as lowering the stores' energy profile, the new lighting systems improve the shopping experience via improved light levels and light quality.

"Being a responsible retailer is central to Ahold USA and its retail divisions," said Jihad Rizkallah, VP of responsible retailing at the Quincy, Mass.-based grocer. "Part of our Better Neighbor Promise is to care for the environment in the communities we serve. We strive to minimize our impact on the environment by implementing energy conservation initiatives and deploying innovative, sustainable building technologies that reduce our energy consumption and make our operations more efficient."

"In the years ahead, Bluestone will continue to provide tailored solutions to Ahold USA’s energy conservation needs, as well helping to navigate the utility incentive process across multiple states and utility programs," noted Ryan Blair, president of the Norwell, Mass.-based provider, asserting that his company's goal was "ensuring that [Ahold USA's] stores are some of the most efficient in the nation."

This year, Ahold USA and Bluestone aim to further their Energy Conservation Initiative by expanding it to stores in all of the grocer's regions, increasing the energy savings through new undertakings while improving the efficiency of ongoing projects.

Ahold USA, part of Netherlands-based Ahold, supports four regional divisions – Stop & Shop New England, Stop & Shop New York Metro, Giant Landover and Giant Carlisle – that together operate more than 770 supermarkets with about 115,000 associates in 14 states and the District of Columbia, along with e-grocer Peapod.