Sheetz’ Commitment to Energy Waste Reduction Continues to Pay Off

Maryland, January 28, 2020 –– Since 2015, the popular family-owned and -operated convenience retailer, Sheetz, has been working with Potomac Edison to make energy-efficient upgrades to over 22 store locations across Maryland. However, the company’s commitment to sustainability and energy efficiency started long before then. “For more than 65 years, Sheetz has striven to make a positive impact on the communities in which it operates. A big part of meeting that goal is building stores that are more environmentally friendly and energy efficient than ever before,” said Eric McCrum, Manager of Energy Projects at Sheetz.

In order to help Sheetz meet its goals, Potomac Edison’s Energy Solutions for Business Program provided the company with a total of $348,439 in incentives that were used to make energy upgrades that save 1,789,529 kWh annually. That’s equivalent to saving the CO2 emissions from 1,394,152 pounds of burned coal, 214 homes’ electricity use for one year, or switching 48,067 incandescent lamps to LEDs! To top it all off, the upgrades allow the company to save an estimated $125,267 every year in energy costs.

Here are some examples of energy-saving upgrades the company has been able to make throughout their facilities using the incentives:

• Variable Frequency Drives (VFDs) installed on the rooftop units to reduce supply fan speed to save energy and maintain comfort.
• Demand control ventilation optimizes fresh air intake and takes advantage of free-cooling when the outside air conditions meet the preset parameters.
• Enterprise-level thermostat set points are established at optimal levels for air conditioning and heating to eliminate energy waste associated with manual adjustments and to maintain comfort.
• Smart defrost controls on freezers allow heating coils that prevent freeze-ups to run only when needed, rather than on a set schedule.
• Interior and exterior lighting controls remove the need for a fixed schedule by automatically adjusting the run times based on sunlight levels and geographical location.

On a day-to-day basis, McCrum says that the energy-saving upgrades also benefit customers and employees through a boost in overall store appearance with the lighting improvements and increased comfort from more efficient HVAC systems. With so many benefits, McCrum is happy to tout that “there’s always a new project on the horizon.”