To date Sobeys Québec has installed 23 carbon dioxide (CO2) refrigeration systems. The systems use CO2 as the refrigeration medium, as opposed to hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) type refrigerants which are typically used in grocery store applications. HFC systems generate high levels of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when the refrigerant is released into the atmosphere through system leaks.

Sobeys Québec has played a pioneering role in the Canadian grocery industry through the use of CO2 refrigeration systems. Partnering with four Québec-based refrigeration system manufacturers, Sobeys Québec's engineering department has developed leading edge CO2 refrigeration technology, which is now being made available to other retailers and food processors.

We are using the CO2 refrigeration technology in both low and medium temperature refrigeration applications. Compared to conventional grocery refrigeration systems, CO2 systems use approximately 50% less refrigerant charge (volume of refrigerant used in the system), have materially lower maintenance costs and provide better temperature control.

The units' environmental benefits are being further enhanced through the integration of the refrigeration systems with heat recovery systems. This practice, referred to as "heat reclaim", involves using waste heat from the refrigeration system for space and water heating purposes. By integrating systems, we are able to reduce our stores' energy consumption, GHG emissions and costs.

Sobeys Québec's knowledge and experience with CO2 refrigeration technology is being shared with other areas of the company. All regions are planning to integrate this type of refrigeration technology into their store networks.