Upgrades help Save Mart save energy at Ripon store

Apples shone brightly in a Save Mart produce bin Wednesday, lit up by LED fixtures that save energy and money.

The chain’s Ripon store showed off several conservation measures installed with help from Pacific Gas & Electric Co. Such places use plenty of power for refrigeration, lighting and other needs, and any savings could help trim costs for shoppers.

The store has increased the number of refrigerated display cases with doors, manager Mike Moreno said. On some cases that remain open, a curtain of chilled air runs continuously between the products and the customers reaching for them.

The 52,000-square-foot store opened in 2008, so it already was under fairly high standards for energy efficiency. More recently, it has taken advantage of a PG&E financing program for upgrades and is testing whether these measures should expand to other company stores.

“We at Save Mart want to be at the forefront working together with PG&E to be more energy-efficient – for the environment as well as the savings,” Moreno said.

His is one of 205 stores that the Modesto-based company owns in California and Nevada under the Save Mart, FoodMaxx, Lucky, S-Mart and Maxx Value banners.

The LEDs – light-emitting diodes – replaced fluorescent fixtures just above produce, meat and frozen foods. Some fluorescents still hang from the ceiling, but thanks to skylights, only half of them are on during the day.

Lights inside freezer cases are off until a motion sensor indicates that a customer is about to open the door.

“When nobody is here, the light doesn’t need to be on,” Save Mart spokeswoman Nannette Miranda said.

Save Mart is paying for the upgrades over time through its bills, PG&E spokeswoman Brandi Ehlers Merlo said. The utility has had success with this program with many large customers and is trying to expand it with midsize and small companies, she said. More information is at www.pge.com.

The company reports that it has helped grocers save enough electricity and natural gas since 2010 to serve nearly 12,000 homes.

PG&E also has a Food Service Technology Center in San Ramon that tests appliances for energy efficiency and educates restaurants and other clients. Details are at www.fishnick.com.

This story was originally published June 29, 2016 at 6:44 PM with the headline "Upgrades help Save Mart save energy at Ripon store."