Giant Eagle, Inc., one of the nation's largest food retailers and food distributors, is the proud recipient of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) 2004 ENERGY STAR(www.energystar.gov) Partner of the Year Award for Excellence in Energy Management.

Founded in 1931, with 138 corporate and 84 independently owned and operated stores throughout western Pennsylvania, Ohio, north central West Virginia, and western Maryland, Giant Eagle has integrated a comprehensive Energy Management Program into its operations. Giant Eagle benchmarked 78 percent of its corporate stores with ENERGY STAR and achieved an average score of 83, which is 66 percent higher than the national average of 50. Corporate energy management goals include: earning the ENERGY STAR Label for 80 percent of its properties; utilizing energy saving technologies and control strategies; benchmarking facility energy use; and commissioning.

As a result of energy projects in 2003, Giant Eagle saved 10,732,131 kWh in 2003 and prevented the release of 19,903,000 pounds of CO2 into the atmosphere. This equates to an annual energy savings of $700,000 on an investment of $1,500,000 and a 46 percent Internal Rate of Return. Recently named Progressive Grocer's Retailer of the Year, Giant Eagle is a great example of how good business and environmental stewardship go hand in hand.

For more information on Giant Eagle's ENERGY STAR accomplishments, contact Blaine Collison at collison.blaine@epa.gov.

US EPA ENERGY STAR

US EPA ENERGY STAR

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