Energy Efficient Buildings | Refrigeration

Demonstration Projects

Loblaw Superstore - Scarborough, ON, Canada

Supermarkets operations result in significant greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to synthetic refrigerant leaks and energy consumption. Loblaw Companies opened an environmental flagship store in Ontario in 2008. This very large supermarket is the first in Canada to use carbon dioxide (CO2) as a heat transfer fluid for frozen food display cases.

Energy efficient supermarket

Several energy efficiency measures related to the design and operation of the refrigeration system, based on the CoolSolution® approach, were implemented in the Scarborough Superstore:

  • Mechanical subcooling
  • Floating head pressure
  • Integration of the refrigeration system with the building heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system
  • Compressor superheat recovery

The Superstore GHG emissions are expected to be at least 50% lower than those of a conventional supermarket due to an 85% reduction in synthetic refrigerant charge and a 20% decrease of the total energy consumption.

CO2 secondary loop

The CO2 secondary loop constitutes the most innovative aspect of the project. It is the first commercial installation of this kind in Canada and the largest one in North America. The CO2 in the liquid state is pumped to the frozen display cases and, when evaporating, provides an effective freezing of food.

CO2 is an excellent heat transfer fluid for secondary loops because it is not viscous, nor expensive, has better heat transfer properties when compared to brine, without being corrosive. It improves shelf life and food quality because of a more stable food temperature and reduces operation costs.

For more information about the Scarborough Superstore innovative refrigeration system, see:

Loblaw’s commitment

For many years, Loblaw Companies have relied on innovative refrigeration technologies to reduce their GHG emissions. Within the framework of the TEAM (Technology Early Action Measures) Program Loblaw got involved with CanmetENERGY to introduce leading edge technologies and practices for refrigeration system design and operation, in particular CO2 as secondary refrigerant, in their new Superstore in Scarborough (ON).