Kudrinko’s, only grocer featured in sustainable building tour

Kudrinko’s of Westport, Ont., is the only supermarket featured in the Ontario Sustainable Energy Association’s upcoming Green Energy Doors Open 2013.

The event on Oct. 5 is a province-wide showcase of local individual, community, public and commercial sustainable energy initiatives and features 66 businesses in 50 communities.

One of the greenest independent grocers, Kudrinko’s owner Neil Kudrinko began retrofitting his 50-year-old store in 2007, spending close to $1 million. Kudrinko said he saves an average $50,000 a year thanks to the retrofits.

During the tour, Kudrinko will showcase some of the store’s sustainable initiatives such as its heat reclaim system, off-grid solar parking lot lights, and retrofits on freezer cases to LED.

Before Kudrikno’s started all of its green projects, its CO2 equivalent emissions were at 173 metric tonnes a year. This year they’re down to 92 metric tonnes.

Next up for Kudrinko’s is retrofitting its open dairy cases with doors

He estimates that he’s extended the life of his 10,000-sq.-ft. store for another 40 years. “It’s a good news story for the environment anytime you can extend the life of a building because you’re avoiding environmental impact caused through greenfielding,” said Kudrinko.