Supermarkets and food stores across Canada can better utilize the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager to reduce their energy consumption with the release of a new Canadian 1-100 ENERGY STAR score.

Natural Resources Canada says the new score offers powerful metrics so stores can compare their performance to other stores.

The interactive energy management tool will help building and energy managers to track and assess water and energy consumption across an entire portfolio of buildings.

Energy is increasingly becoming a top concern for supermarket owners and facility managers. Supermarkets are the most electricity-intensive type of commercial building, using an average of about 50 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity. They also use 50 cubic feet of natural gas per square foot annually.

In addition, merchandising trends are provoking grocery stores to become more energy intensive as stores are carrying more fresh-food products, frozen-food aisles are expanding, food-safety temperature requirements are tightening, and demand for prepared food is growing.

According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, $1 in savings can translate into $59 in increased sales. Such savings can also attract more than 60 per cent of consumers who have stated the wish to make purchases from environmentally friendly companies.

Besides increased profitability and an enhanced public image, food stores can benefit from reduced spoilage with upgrades to refrigeration and lighting systems.