<p>By Carol Abel, Vice President, Education, FMI</p><div class="mg-image–circular" style="float:right;margin:10px;"><img alt="Hanging Light Bulbs" src="https://www.fmi.org/images/default-source/blog-images/hanging-light-bulbs.jpg?sfvrsn=e6afa602_1" sf-size="100" /></div><p>While retailers simultaneously pursue other sustainability efforts, such as reducing food and packaging waste, they are increasingly focusing on their physical locations. After all, on a global level, buildings are responsible for 40% of energy consumption
and 33% of greenhouse gas emissions. </p><p>Energy is at the heart of sustainable design for buildings. According to a 2022 report from the consulting firm <a href="https://www.mckinsey.com/industries/retail/our-insights/decarbonizing-grocery">McKinsey</a>, energy consumption in grocery stores
can be lowered by 30-50% by modernizing lighting, refrigeration, heating, ventilation, air conditioning and cooling, among other measures. </p><p>Updating those systems can be done at different scales and through a range of investments, even at a time of tight margins and overall economic uncertainty. From an ROI standpoint, improving energy sources can reduce operating costs while contributing
to decarbonization. </p><p>As grocers take actionable steps to move ahead with sustainable energy choices, they have more options as providers and partners continue to roll out innovative solutions. Given the importance of refrigeration – which can account for up to 60% of
a grocer’s energy use, according to the <a href="https://www.epa.gov/">U.S. Environmental Protection Agency</a> (EPA) – retailers are moving towards energy-efficient refrigeration systems, such as those with natural refrigerants like CO2.
That has been one notable avenue for greener energy solutions at food retail. </p><p>Increasingly, food retailers are also exploring ways to offset their carbon use through power purchase agreements. Beyond brick-and-mortar grocery stores, retailers, wholesale/distributors and suppliers are embracing more sustainable energy forms in their
warehouses, such as the use of solar arrays and wind turbines. </p><p>In whatever way blueprints turn greener, grocers of all sizes and types are heeding the push towards more sustainable sources of energy. You can learn more at the <a href="https://www.fmi.org/energy-and-store-development-conference">2023 FMI Energy and Store Development Conference</a>,
a peer-to-peer event designed exclusively for food retail professionals in energy, refrigeration, sustainability and store design, Oct. 2-4 at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor, where we will explore a host of relevant, timely topics including:</p><ul><li>Sustainability Strategies to Meet ESG Goals.</li><li>Reducing Store Emissions.</li><li>Cost Cutting Approaches.</li><li>Current Sustainability Trends.</li></ul><p>Attendees can also take advantage of networking opportunities, including the manufacturer retail exchange for face-to-face interaction with industry retailers and suppliers.</p><p><a href="https://www.fmi.org/forms/RedirectForm/?dest=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.fmi.org%2Fenergy-and-store-development-conference&utm_campaign=esd23&utm_source=blog_ESD23_sustainableenergy&utm_medium=blog" class="button">Register for the 2023 Energy and Store Development Conference </a> </p>
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