Energy Efficient Buildings | Refrigeration

Loblaw Supermarket – Repentigny, QC, Canada

Refrigeration plays an essential role in preserving the freshness of food. However, refrigeration consumes up to 50% of a supermarket’s total energy consumption and contributes to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions due to inevitable refrigerant leaks. These leaks, originating in the kilometres of piping that connect the mechanical room to the refrigerated and frozen foods display cases, have an impact on the environment.

An energy efficient supermarket

In order to do their part to protect the environment, Provigo Inc. and the whole team of the Loblaw banner, have taken the initiative of equipping their new Repentigny store with innovative technologies aiming to improve energy efficiency and, ultimately, reduce GHG emissions.

The new system, product of a partnership between the private and public sectors funded by the Technology Early Actions Measures (TEAM) Program, is also respectful of the environment, since it allows reduction of synthetic refrigerant use by 75% and total energy consumption by 18%, compared to a conventional supermarket.

A CoolSolution^® approach

The main innovation of the new 10,000 m² (102,000 ft²) supermarket in Repentigny, Québec, lies in the installation of a secondary-loop refrigeration system integrated to the heating and ventilation system. This technology facilitates recovery of the heat rejected by the refrigeration system to heat the store while ensuring a good distribution of the cold in the display cases, for food quality and customer comfort. It also makes possible the adaptation of the system to the Canadian climatic conditions.

For more information on the innovative refrigeration system at the Loblaw supermarket in Repentigny, see:

• Case study (891 KB)

Compared to traditional technology that consumes up to 2,000 kg of synthetic refrigerant flowing through kilometres of pipes, the secondary-loop system uses as low as 100 to 200 kg of refrigerant that remain contained in the mechanical room, thereby reducing the risk of leaks.
This refrigerant cools a secondary fluid, with no environmental impact, which circulates in the pipes leading to the supermarket’s refrigerated display cases. This system eliminates temperature fluctuations, thereby ensuring higher quality of food offered in display cases. More energy efficient, this system makes it easy to use the heat rejected by the refrigeration system to heat the building, generating significant energy savings.

Vision of Provigo

"We are proud to see one of our supermarkets become an environmental showcase in the area of refrigeration and energy efficiency. In addition to doing our part to improve the greenhouse-effect situation, we are gaining a simpler operating system, reducing our energy and maintenance costs, and ensuring our equipment’s reliability and durability,"says Daniel Tremblay, Senior Vice President Procurement, Merchandising and Trade Relations, Provigo inc.