Wegmans, other retailers going green

Wegmans has been joining other retailers in making their stores more green.  The Eastway store in Penfield recently completed the installation of new lights (shown above).  Gone are the old, round dome warehouse-style lamps that were harsh on the eyes and hard on the environment.  All recently built stores already have them, and other locations such as Penfield Rd and Dewitt have been retrofitted for some time now.  A display near the checkout lanes describes the benefits:

• 7,335,540 kWh saved over the ten year life of the system
• 11,296,732 lbs of Carbon Dioxide avoided 
• 22,007 lbs of Nitrogen Oxides avoided
• 44,013 lbs of Sulfur Dioxide

Or, in terms that we can understand, that's the equivalent of:

• 5,483,850 lbs of coal not burned 
• 1,401 acres of trees added
• 98 cars removed from the road each year
• 61 homes powered with electricity for a year

Now, in case you can tell that something is different, but can't remember what the old lights look like, here is a picture of the "before and after":

This is only one of several efforts being made by Wegmans to be more environmentally friendly.  Reusable bags are being promoted to eliminate plastic waste, and for those who have to have the plastic, there are receptacles near the carts where they can be recycled.  Customer demand is in part driving these changes, as was the case this winter when, at the recommendation of customers, stores replaced Styrofoam egg crates with paperboard packaging made from recycled materials.

Wegmans is not the only retailer to be making changes...Target Corporation has also begun retrofitting all of it's stores with new lights.  The new fixtures will look the same, but will use two fluorescent bulbs instead of the current four.  They will offer the same amount of light, while cutting the amount of energy used.  Target says it will be a "zero waste" project - all of the current metal fixtures will be recycled, along with all of the cardboard packaging from the new ones.

While such action should be encouraged, one should keep in mind that many of these companies are probably more concerned with saving money than just being environmentally friendly.  Both of these lighting projects will save money along with energy.  Other changes are the result of new laws - for example, California now requires stores to offer reusable bags.  With other states considering similar legislation, companies like Target decided to offer them at all of their stores.  Going green also means good PR.  Still, whatever the motive, the end result is good for all involved.