When shopping at the grocery store, consumers certainly need to be able to see the products they are purchasing, but let's be honest — most stores could stand to dim the lights a bit. You shouldn't feel like you need sunglasses while perusing the cosmetics aisle, after all. Steadfast in reducing its carbon footprint, German discount grocer Aldi is taking strides toward more sustainable stores, which it plans to achieve by reducing the number of lights turned on among its 2,300+ U.S. stores.
We all turn lights off so why don’t supermarkets and offices when appropriate?
— AT (@ToucheAdrian) June 4, 2023
Likewise motorways? Driving M25 yesterday morning and lights were on, what a waste of £s!@NationalHways @ConHome @piersmorgan @SkyNewsBreak @BBCBreaking
"Through measures like this we're able to make our stores even more sustainable and maintain our position as the UK's lowest-priced supermarket," a representative for the grocery chain told The Telegraph. Talk about a win-win. A spokesperson for Aldi also told The Telegraph that the move is the chain's latest effort to reduce its energy consumption and introduce more energy-efficient lighting to its store locations.
But will Aldi's plan actually make a difference? According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), how much energy is used in a store or home depends on the day, time, and weather. Generally, electricity is generated at the time it is being used. So, Aldi's efforts stand to make an impact after all.
Where the grocer saves money on energy costs, it's giving back to its customers with lower prices. At the end of May, Aldi shoppers saw price drops on more than 250 items nationwide.
While the generous gesture is certainly a welcome one, we won't be drawing direct inspiration in our own households — sorry kids, there are no incentives for turning off your bedroom lights before you head to school. This isn't Aldi.
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