Eversource and Big Y Partner on Energy Efficiency Projects

Print Story | Email Story
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. — Following energy efficiency upgrades at 21 Big Y grocery stores across Connecticut and Massachusetts, the chain is now reaping the benefits and savings.
 
Big Y partnered with Eversource's energy efficiency experts to take advantage of incentive programs to make several upgrades in multiple stores. The grocery store chain is now saving some 9.3 million kilowatt-hours of electricity annually, the equivalent of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by removing 840 gasoline powered vehicles from area roads for a year. 
 
"We are proud to partner with Big Y in delivering efficiency solutions that support their environmental goals," said Eversource Vice President of Energy Efficiency and Electric Mobility Tilak Subrahmanian. "We're uniquely positioned to support their strategic approach to lowering environmental impacts in their stores through our many offerings. It's exciting to help them, leveraging expertise from across our organization as they enhance their carbon-reduction strategies while ensuring a positive, in-store customer experience." 
 
Eversource and Big Y have partnered for more than four decades on sustainability initiatives that have grown from LED lighting upgrades and complex control integrations to the installation of new fan motors on refrigeration and HVAC systems in existing stores. Additional upgrades being incorporated in current and planned stores include: 
 
"Big Y has a long legacy of caring for our planet, and we are always in search of new ways to improve our carbon footprint. We are grateful to have partnered with Eversource on these energy initiatives, and to continue on our journey towards sustainability," said Maggie D'Amour, Big Y, Senior Manager of Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG). 
 
Variable Frequency Drives in rooftop units with carbon dioxide controls, providing more efficient use of energy in these large systems 
Electronically commutated motors in freezer cases, which lower the electrical consumption of these systems while supporting better airflow to keep frozen items cold 
Anti-sweat door heater controls to give customers better visibility of items in the freezer cases 
 
The Big Y team engaged both Lighting Solutions, Inc. and the Efficiency Solutions Group at Mantis Innovation to complete the measures. Eversource and Big Y are also exploring other green energy solutions such as additional EV charging stations, tactics to work on greenhouse gas emissions targets, and participation in future community solar projects. 

Tags: big y,   

If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

ADOPTED! Companion Corner: Cali and Kyzer at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

Great news, Kyzer and Cali found a home for Christmas already! Still looking for a new friend for the holidays? There are plenty of dogs and cats and small animals at Berkshire Humane who would love to go home with you.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a bonded dog pair awaiting a new family at the Berkshire Humane Society.

Kyzer and Cali are both poodles. Kyzer is the male and is 7 years old, a quite a bit bigger than his sister Cali, who is a miniature of Kyzer and 8 years old.

Canine adoption counselor Rhonda Cyr introduced us to the two.

"They came from a household that couldn't hold on to them, and it sounds like they may have been abandoned by their previous owner with somebody else, and so they came to us looking for a new home," she said.

The two love to be around you and snuggle. But both are very happy dogs.

"Kyzer is 7 years old, and his personality is that he kind of wants to be in everything. He's very loving, very snuggly, as you can tell. And Callie here, she's 8 years old, and she is kind of like the life of the party," said Cyr. "She wants to tell you everything about her day, and she's a little bit of a little ham."

The two are considered seniors and really like soft treats as Cali just had a few teeth removed and Kyzer has a tooth procedure coming up.

"Currently, they really like soft treats, because they are both on the senior side of things. So they have had some dental work, so they are really in need of something softer. They are not big chewers at this age, really, their main focus right now is just really socializing and cuddling," Cyr said.

The two would love a quiet home with someone who wants to snuggle. They shouldn't go to a home with bigger dogs but if you have a dog, you can bring them in for a visitation with the poodles to see if they will get along. Cats will be fine and the preference is for older and more responsible children so that the pups don't get hurt, as they are senior citizens.

"The perfect home for them would be a quiet home that's not too active. Like I said, they're very social, so they could handle some visitors," she said. "They're very friendly, but I don't think that they would really enjoy any other dogs in the home."

Poodles need to be regularly groomed, and the prospective adopter will have to keep an eye on their health. Kyzer has a heart murmur that needs to be monitored. This doesn't mean he is in bad health, as he could live a perfectly normal life, but he will need to be checked by a veterinary specialist routinely.

"Ideally, he would go to a home that could provide further health care with a specialist in cardiac care. And you know, he could very well live out the rest of his life comfortably and happy," Cyr said. "We just don't have all that information at the moment, but I think that you know the way he's going right now. He's got a good spirit, and he seems to be pretty happy."

The shelter is hoping the to get them a home for the holidays.

"We would love to get them a home in time for the holidays. They've been here since the eighth of November, and they're really, really looking as much as the staff loves them here, we're really looking to get them into a home and somewhere nice and cozy so they can spend the rest of their life together," she said.

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories