Amid Rising Operational Costs & Economic Uncertainty, Taper and Ratio Institute Launch a Free Energy Assessment to Help Grocers Save Now
July 10, 2025
For Immediate Release
A simple new tool from leaders in energy management and food retail gives independent, mid-level, and enterprise grocery retailers a fast and free way to boost efficiency and reduce operating expenses by up to $115,000 annually per store.
[Santa Cruz, CA]
As grocery retailers across the U.S. navigate rising operational costs, shifting regulations, and ongoing economic uncertainty, the benefit corporation Taper, an expert in grocery energy management, has partnered with Ratio Institute, a leader in sustainable food retail, to launch a free, self-guided energy assessment that is designed to help all grocers—from single-store operators to regional chains and national brands—uncover energy-saving and cost-saving opportunities in under 10 minutes.
The Grocery Energy Assessment gives grocers instant access to tailored recommendations focused on no-cost and low-cost actions that improve energy efficiency, refrigeration system performance, and waste management, all without requiring a site visit or a financial commitment.
“We wanted to create a tool that could offer quick insights, actionable savings, and a plan to help any store navigate where they are right now while bolstering additional cost savings…”
– Jane McClellan, Principal at Taper
“Grocers are at the heart of our communities and face compounded pressures with inflation and rising utility costs – they are being forced to do a lot more with less. We wanted to create a tool that could offer quick insights, actionable savings, and a plan to help any store navigate where they are right now while bolstering additional cost savings through our expertise in incentive management,” said Jane McClellan, Principal at Taper.
Taper and Ratio Institute developed the free Grocery Energy Assessment in response to a growing demand from grocery customers who need accessible tools to proactively manage their energy usage. Whether you’re an independent grocer looking for a quick, no-risk way to save costs, a regional chain seeking to benchmark performance and prioritize upgrades, or a national retailer in need of a scalable tool to support portfolio goals, the free Grocery Energy Assessment delivers immediate, actionable insights at a store level.
The tool builds on Taper’s and Ratio Institute’s extensive experience in conducting grocery energy audits, incentive management, and decarbonization programs across the country, while addressing energy efficiency, refrigeration operations, and resiliency readiness to align with current and future regulatory trends across major metro areas, where many grocers are facing refrigerant, decarbonization, and benchmarking mandates.
“This tool removes barriers for grocers who want to take action but don’t have time or resources to waste.”
– Peter Cooke, Director of Programs at Ratio Institute
“This tool removes barriers for grocers who want to take action but don’t have time or resources to waste,” said Peter Cooke, Director of Programs at Ratio Institute. “It’s fast, practical, and built specifically for food retailers based on real-world data and the latest industry best practices.”
About Taper
Taper is an energy management benefit corporation on a mission to decarbonize commercial buildings. We help food retailers, building owners, and industry professionals crush their emission targets, optimize their systems, and maximize their energy savings. Our expertise includes energy efficiency, refrigeration management, compliance, capturing incentives, and project management.
Taper and Ratio Institute are powered by Ecology Action, a non-profit 501(c)(3) that’s been advancing community climate solutions in high-GHG-emitting sectors for over 50 years.