Aldi said yesterday that its new environmentally friendly supermarket in East Syracuse, N.Y. employs new refrigeration system that is saving energy now and will allow for the addition of refrigerated coolers and cases in the future.

The 17,500-square-foot Aldi Generation 1 prototype uses Hussmann's Protocol distributed refrigeration solution as one of several energy and cost savings features that are being piloted in the prototype.

"By using the Hussmann Protocol refrigeration system, we have been able to fulfill capacity needs and facilitate growth in a scalable format that allows us to save energy," said Aaron Sumida, v.p. of Aldi's Tully Division. "In the future we can add coolers and multideck cases, and draw off the Protocol system to meet our needs."

In addition to the energy savings, the Protocol system reduces the store's overall refrigerant charge and reduces refrigerant leak rates by up to 80 percent, said Hussmann.

Other Hussmann green products at the new Aldi store include multideck display cases with high-performance coils, energy-efficient fan motors, and integrated night curtains to save refrigeration energy when the store is closed. Hussmann also provided walk-in coolers with energy-efficient evaporator coils and fan motors.

Hussmann is a member of the U.S. EPA GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership, a cooperative alliance with the supermarket industry to promote advanced technologies, strategies, and practices that reduce refrigerant charges and emissions of ozone-depleting substances and greenhouse gases.

"Hussmann has moved in a green direction, which is a huge factor in the refrigeration industry, and enables stores like ours to stay cutting-edge," said Sumida. "Hussmann green products allow us to save energy and keep prices lower, giving us a competitive advantage."