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Giant Eagle(R) Recognized With Environmental Protection Agency's ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence 2006 Award

Posted on: Wednesday, 8 March 2006, 09:00 CST

PITTSBURGH, March 8 /PRNewswire/ -- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized Giant Eagle, Inc., with the ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence 2006 Award for its continued leadership in protecting our environment through energy efficiency. Giant Eagle's accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 21, 2006. In 2004 and 2005, Giant Eagle(R) was also named ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year.

Giant Eagle, an ENERGY STAR partner since November 2001, will be honored for its long-term commitment to energy efficiency, as demonstrated throughout its operations, including the installation of new energy efficient lighting technology, the purchase of wind-generated electricity and education of store employees on how they can save energy.

As part of Giant Eagle's ongoing commitment to responsible resource use, the supermarket retailer was recognized in 2005 for constructing in Ohio the nation's first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)-certified supermarket.

Across the U.S., top companies and organizations are discovering the value of promoting energy efficiency through participation in ENERGY STAR. Last year alone, with the help of ENERGY STAR, Americans saved $12 billion on their energy bills and enough peak energy to power 28 million homes. Through those savings they avoided greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those of more than 23 million vehicles.

"Conserving resources through sound energy management is a priority for us at Giant Eagle," said Giant Eagle Director of Conservation Jim Lampl. "As an ENERGY STAR partner, we strive to achieve superior energy performance in our organization. This program delivers energy efficiencies and cost savings to Giant Eagle, but more importantly, it is good for the environment."

The Sustained Excellence 2006 Award is given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership year after year. They have set and achieved aggressive goals, employed innovative approaches, and shown others what can be achieved through energy efficiency. These awards recognize ongoing leadership across the ENERGY STAR program including energy- efficient products, services, new homes and in the commercial, industrial and public sectors. These Award winners are selected from thousands of organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.

"Partners like Giant Eagle are national leaders in energy efficiency," said Kathleen Hogan, director of EPA's Climate Protection Partnerships Division. "The ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence winners are true models for improving energy efficiency across the country. They have shown year after year that energy efficiency is good for business and helps consumers save important resources, all while protecting the environment."

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, the program offers businesses and consumers energy- efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 8,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit http://www.energystar.gov/ or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).

About Giant Eagle

Giant Eagle, Inc., ranked 34 on Forbes magazine's largest private corporations list and past recipient of Progressive Grocer's Retailer of the Year Award and the EPA's ENERGY STAR Retail Partner of the Year Award, is one of the nation's largest food retailers and food distributors with approximately $5.5 billion in annual sales. Founded in 1931, Giant Eagle, Inc. has grown to be the number one supermarket retailer in the region with 140 corporate and 73 independently owned and operated supermarkets in addition to more than 90 fuel and convenience stores throughout western Pennsylvania, Ohio, north central West Virginia and Maryland.

Giant Eagle was named America's Second Harvest 2004 Regional Retailer of the Year for its support of local food banks, and also actively supports numerous community events, the United Way, The Salvation Army, Race For The Cure and other non-profit organizations. The company also has created education initiatives such as Apples For The Students, which has provided millions of dollars in computer equipment, software and other classroom learning tools for local schools and the Be A Smart Shopper school nutrition program. Further information can be found at http://www.gianteagle.com/ .

Giant Eagle, Inc.

CONTACT: Dan Donovan, Corporate Communications of Giant Eagle, Inc.,+1-412-963-5072, or daniel.donovan@gianteagle.com ; or Dick Roberts of RobertsCommunications, +1-412-535-5000, or droberts@rob-com.com , for Giant Eagle,Inc.; or Maria Vargas of Environmental Protection Agency, +1-202-343-9178, orvargas.maria@epa.gov

Web site: http://www.energystar.gov/http://www.gianteagle.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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