Stew Leonard's

Since it was founded in 1969, Stew Leonard’s has become not only the world’s largest dairy store, but one of the most renowned grocery stores. The company has received worldwide acclaim for excellence in customer service and quality. In addition to its headquarters store in Norwalk, Conn., Stew Leonard’s has stores in Danbury, Conn. and Yonkers, N.Y., and a fourth store recently opened in Newington, Conn.

Through a partnership with the Connecticut Energy Efficiency Fund (CEEF) and The Connecticut Light and Power Company (CL&P), Stew Leonard’s has become a leader in implementing energy efficiency improvements. As the Company undertakes new building projects or undergoes machinery and equipment updates, it works with CEEF and CL&P to ensure the most energy efficient models or methods are chosen. Some of these efforts include:

• High reflectivity roofing
• High efficiency lighting and occupancy sensors
• High efficiency heat pumps
• High efficiency roof top HVAC units
• High efficiency motors
• LED lit signs;

Stew Leonard’s Newington location in particular employs skylights that supplement interior lighting and occupancy sensors to control lighting in warehouse areas. High speed insulated doors were used on the freezer compartment to keep the chilled air from escaping. The building layout was specifically designed so as to not allow exterior dock air to pass through the freezer.

Each store also monitors energy use by square foot and other matrixes. The monitoring is reported on to management and compared with the performance of the other stores. Increases and decreases are evaluated and action plans are put in place to mitigate any rise in costs.