LIPA/King Kullen Energy Efficiency Partnership Earns “Business Leader” Award
from NEEP
LIPA-Supported Program Cuts King Kullen’s Energy Bills
Massapequa, NY—July 25, 2007— The Long Island Power Authority (LIPA)
today announced that a unique partnership with King Kullen supermarkets has
earned the Long Island chain a “Northeast Business Leaders for Energy
Efficiency” award from the Northeast Energy Efficiency Partnerships (NEEP).
Since the inception of LIPA’s Commercial Construction Program (CCP), King
Kullen has participated in and taken advantage of the many energy efficient,
cost-effective opportunities it offers. King Kullen’s energy efficiency
investments have allowed the company to reduce its annual electricity
consumption by between 20 and 25 percent for a total annual savings of more than
$2 million.
King Kullen has shown a commitment to continued improvement in energy
performance by participating in LIPA’s CEI Retrofit Energy and Capacity Program
(RECAP). RECAP alone, will reduce King Kullen’s electricity consumption annually
by approximately 12,000,000 Kilowatt-hours (kWh), which is enough electricity to
power about 1,200 average-sized Long Island homes.
“LIPA is very pleased and encouraged by the forward thinking of Long Island’s
own King Kullen,” said LIPA CEO/President Richard M. Kessel. “By participating
in our Clean Energy Initiative, King Kullen is ensuring that their stores will
be energy efficient and environmentally responsible while achieving significant
long-term financial savings.”
The Business Leaders for Energy Efficiency Award was formally presented at
the 2007 Northeast Energy Efficiency Summit, held May 11 in Rhode Island. King
Kullen, which was nominated for the honor by the Long Island Power Authority (LIPA),
earned the award for its commitment to energy efficiency as evidenced by a
series of factors, including documented energy savings; energy efficiency
investment and cost-effectiveness; comprehensiveness; commitment from management
to continued energy performance; proven operations and practices; and overall
organizational leadership.
LIPA also commended King Kullen for the time and effort invested to explore
new technologies such as LED lighting in their reach-in display cases, desiccant
systems for humidity control, daylighting with skylights, reflective roofing,
building envelope, mechanical systems, as well as using tried and true measures
such as liquid refrigerant pumping and high efficient heating, ventilating and
air conditioning systems (HVAC). In addition, King Kullen is also recognized by
LIPA for being pro-active in LIPA’s Research and Development efforts.
“To remain competitive in today’s food market we need to find ways to keep
costs down at all times. Our utility bills are going up faster than any expense
in our company,” said Thomas Cullen, Vice President of Government and Industry
Relations, King Kullen. “Thanks to LIPA’s Commercial Construction Program, the
investment of relighting all of King Kullen’s 46 stores has saved us $2.2
million in utility costs.”
Recently, King Kullen participated in a LEED Charrette to learn about the
benefits of a LEED Certified Building and how to successfully achieve the points
required for Certification.
The family owned supermarket continues to be on the forefront of energy
efficiency by participating in LIPA’s whole building measure, one of the
programs offered in LIPA’s CCP, in two of their projects: a total rehab of their
new Massapequa Park store and a new construction “Wild By Nature” store in
Oceanside. In implementing whole building measures both projects will
incorporate cost-effective, energy-efficient, environmentally responsible
electric technologies into their construction plan. Together with LIPA experts,
King Kullen’s building design team will work jointly, from concept to
completion, to develop energy efficient buildings.
LIPA has several commercial business programs available through the Clean
Energy Initiative (CEI), a $355-million, ten-year effort to reduce the use of
fossil fuels, to assist large businesses to lower operational costs and gain the
greatest utilization of energy resources. King Kullen has been proactive in
utilizing many of the programs as previously mentioned above.
The Long Island-based, King Kullen, is recognized by the Smithsonian
Institute as America’s First Supermarket, which has grown into a regional chain
of food stores. Today, three generations after the start of the company, King
Kullen is still a family owned and operated leader in the Long Island
supermarket business. They currently own 49 stores, which includes 46 King
Kullens and three Wild By Nature stores. King Kullen employs approximately 5,000
people.
“Wild By Nature,” is King Kullen’s newest venture with a mission to promote
healthy life styles by supplying the freshest, most wholesome foods along with
high-quality natural health care products, to its customers.
“It comes as no surprise to LIPA that King Kullen is one of our most
proactive business customers when it comes to energy conservation. The same
values they seek to bring to the families on Long Island are extended to the
environment,” said Mr.Kessel.
To learn more about using electricity efficiently visit LIPA’s Web site at
www.lipower.org .
NEEP is a regional nonprofit organization founded in 1996 whose mission is to
promote energy efficiency in homes, buildings and industry in the Northeast U.S.
through regionally coordinated programs and policies that increase the use of
energy efficient products, services and practices, and that help achieve a
cleaner environment and a more reliable and affordable energy system. For more
information, visit www.neep.org. |
