Kohl’s Department Stores said it has been recognised with the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) 2015 ‘Energy Star Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence’ award.
According to a Kohl’s press release, it bagged the award for the company’s continued leadership in protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency initiatives.
An Energy Star member since 1998, Kohl’s currently has more than 950 Energy Star-certified locations totaling more than 80 per cent of Kohl’s stores and is the highest percentage of stores among US retailers.
In 2014 alone, 122 Kohl’s stores received Energy Star certification, marking the largest number of stores the company has certified in one year since 2010.
Kohl’s uses the Energy Star portfolio manager to track energy performance of all facilities, assess opportunities for enhanced energy performance and implement best practices.
The retailer also constructs new stores with the intent to pursue Energy Star’s “Designed to Earn” designation.
“These stores are eligible to earn Energy Star certification after maintaining superior energy performance for one year in operation,” Kohl’s added.
Kohl’s has also set a goal through the Department of Energy Better Buildings Challenge to cut its energy use in more than 112 million square feet of occupied building space by at least 20 per cent by 2020.
Against this goal, Kohl’s achieved 12 per cent reduction in energy use in 2013 and another 4.3 per cent reduction in 2014.
In addition to this year’s award, Kohl’s informed that it received Sustained Excellence Awards in 2012, 2013 and 2014, as well as Partner of the Year Awards in 2010 and 2011.
“We are proud of our commitment to driving energy efficiency across Kohl’s stores and this award for sustained excellence shows our efforts to conserve resources,” said Ken Bonning, Kohl’s senior executive vice president.
“It is not only that more than 100 Kohl’s stores have bagged Energy Star certification in 2014, the average Energy Star score of a Kohl’s store too has increased year over year,” he observed.
“Through their sustained participation with Energy Star, Kohl’s is helping save money and energy and also reduce greenhouse gas emissions that fuel climate change,” said EPA administrator, Gina McCarthy.
“I applaud Kohl’s for earning the EPA’s highest Energy Star award, demonstrating a strong commitment to energy efficiency and to preserving a healthy planet for future generations,” she added. (AR)
