LOCKPORT, N.Y. -- Reid Petroleum Inc. and its chain of Crosby’s convenience stores is the first company in western New York to be awarded the Small Business Green Initiative (SBGI) certification by Sustainable Earth Solutions (SES). In preparing to obtain the SBGI certification, Crosby’s goal was to cost-effectively reduce energy consumption. It did so and has realized better performance.
Crosby’s is looking for ways to improve its measures for sustainability. Some of its noteworthy initiatives include composting food waste, selling locally grown and produced food and following best practices of green building for its chain of c-stores.
Having completed energy efficiency measures and green energy production projects with success, the company embarked on the SBGI journey to identify more means to become more sustainable. While working with the SES team, it was brought to their attention that thermostats located close to their kitchens were triggering premature activation of air-conditioning. Not only did this cause the stores to be too cold, it also led to extra energy expense. Contractors for Crosby’s are now looking into the possibility of better locations for thermostats.
Given its advanced capability for clean-energy production, Crosby’s is also working on installing a highly visible monitor in its stores that will display real-time energy production, to show that they are changing for the better.
Earning SBGI certification involved the following stages for Crosby’s:
- Establishing a mission.
- Conducting baseline analysis.
- Identifying a project topic.
- Identifying challenges, assistors and resistors.
- Developing a strategic plan.
- Implementing the plan.
- Submitting a detailed report with metrics.
“In being the project manager of the SBGI for Crosby’s, the SBGI helped me identify sustainability goals and creatively come up with ideas to reach them," said Crosby’s spokesperson Steve Warren. "Crosby’s has done a great job, but our work is not done. We will always look for an economically feasible way to become a more sustainable company. The future of sustainability in Crosby’s is bright.”
SES is a Buffalo, N.Y.-based sustainability consulting company.
Lockport, N.Y.-baed Reid Petroleum is a full-service, independent marketer supplying transportation fuels and related services to convenience stores and commercial businesses throughout New York, Pennsylvania and Ohio. Reid also operates a chain of c-stores under the Crosby’s name.
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