Stop & Shop announced yesterday that it has completed the installation of solar panels on eight of its stores in Mass., Conn. and N.J. The solar panels will reduce the amount of energy consumed by these stores by more than seven percent. The completion of this project marks an extension of the company’s commitment to reduce its carbon footprint by 20 percent by 2015 using 2008 as a baseline.

The photovoltaic (PV) solar power generating systems were developed by Alteris Renewables, Inc., the largest design-build renewable energy company in the Northeast. The amount of electricity that will be generated by all eight stores annually is estimated to be 1,759,572 kWh, offsetting 1,264 metric tons of CO2. This is equivalent to the CO2 emissions from the total electricity use of 153 homes over the course of a year.

The solar project is among a series of green solutions Stop & Shop is rolling out across its 375 stores in the Northeast.

“Two years ago, we launched a storewide refresh and brought customers new technology to simplify their lives – handheld devices for scanning groceries, digital kiosks for placing deli orders, and one-stop weigh stations in the produce department,” said Faith Weiner director of public affairs for Stop & Shop. “Now we’re rolling out new renewable energy solutions for our stores which enable us to conserve energy, while continuing to deliver the quality and value our shoppers expect.”

Faith Weiner continued, “Businesses are waking up to the benefits of solar power. As one of the largest food retailers in the Northeast, we’re proud to incorporate solar panels into our building, and we appreciate the expertise that Alteris has brought to this tri-state project.”

Beyond solar panels, Stop & Shop has been exploring alternative ways to be green by installing energy-efficient lighting and refrigeration systems in stores and distribution centers.