H-E-B is excited to announce that the new H-E-B Buffalo Heights store in Houston received the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) GreenChill Gold Level Certification Award, making it the company’s first store to receive the prestigious honor and only the second store in the state of Texas to achieve gold to date in 2019.

“We congratulate the Buffalo Heights store for qualifying for GreenChill’s Gold-Level certification,” said EPA Region 6 Administrator Ken McQueen. “GreenChill certified stores like this one reduce impacts on the environment while saving money at the same time.”

The H-E-B Buffalo Heights store uses 70 to 80 percent less refrigerant compared to a typical store, which will reduce its greenhouse emissions by up to 75%. That is the equivalent of more than 3.1 million miles driven by a passenger vehicle. Additionally, the equipment is designed to be leak tight, as it is factory-sealed and factory-charged. For H-E-B, this award signals the company’s commitment to reduce its carbon footprint by continuing to invest in cutting-edge, environmentally sustainable refrigeration systems.

“H-E-B Buffalo Heights is an innovative store built with a focus on environmental sustainability, and it is H-E-B’s first location to achieve this gold level award from the EPA. We expect this to be the first of many to come,” said Winell Herron, H-E-B Group Vice President of Public Affairs, Diversity and Environmental Affairs. “H-E-B is proud to be a part of this respected partnership, which further signifies our commitment to be strong environmental stewards, creating healthier communities.”

As part of the EPA’s GreenChill Partnership, H-E-B continues its path to adopt refrigeration technologies, strategies and practices that will significantly reduce refrigerant emissions and their impact on the environment.

H-E-B has longstanding and measurable commitment to environmental sustainability and this initiative is among the many efforts the retailer has in place to reduce its impact on the communities it serves. As a two-time winner of the state’s highest environmental excellence award, the company has several stores that are LEED® (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design™) certified and has incorporated many of the same sustainable design strategies for its new stores. This includes the innovative, LEED® Gold certified H-E-B at Mueller in Austin, which was the first North American supermarket to use a whole-store propane refrigeration system.