Using CO2 to Make Our Stores More Sustainable

Our stores are doing something cool! Select locations have a special refrigeration system that uses carbon dioxide as an alternative to chemical refrigerants in our coolers, freezers and display cases. This type of refrigeration system has a lower Global Warming Potential (GWP), reducing our carbon footprint.

While most of us remember learning about carbon dioxide and its effects on the environment in science class, how much do you know about this gas?

What is Carbon Dioxide?

Carbon dioxide, or CO₂, is a gas that is in the air all around us. It is naturally present in the atmosphere and is part of the carbon cycle. We all exhale CO₂ when we breathe, and plants absorb it during photosynthesis in order to grow.

CO₂ helps keeps the world at the right temperature by trapping the heat from the Sun. By  burning fossil fuels and other harmful actions, humans can create problems for CO₂ levels; when that happens, the extra trapped heat can cause climate instability, which can lead to climate change. The problems created by humans have increased CO2 levels by more than a third since the Industrial Revolution and have made it difficult for some things to adapt. This change can have an effect on a variety of things, from the weather, by making storms more extreme, to decreasing the lifespan of plants and animals.

Working to Be More Sustainable

• Since it’s abundantly found in our atmosphere, it is considered a natural refrigerant by the EPA.
• It has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 1, which is the best GWP you can get. CO is used as the baseline to measure other gases’ GWP.

We’re always looking for new ways to become more sustainable, and adding these refrigeration systems in our stores is just one of them. You can also read about how our air conditioning systems are Going Green and Staying Cool as well. Check out our Sustainability website to keep up with our efforts.