Kohl’s Department Stores Wins Another Green Award

Posted by Lisa Carey

This year Kohl’s Department stores are an Energy Star Partner of the Year. Kohl’s earned this green award last year as well and was also named as the number one green retailer in Newsweek magazine’s Green Rankings. Find out what they are doing to go and keep going green.

The Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S Department of Energy offers awards each year to businesses and other institutions that make a commitment to energy management and greenhouse gas emissions reductions. This voluntary program began in 1992 to encourage eco-friendly practices at the residential, commercial and industrial levels. Over 17,000 organizations participate in the Energy Star program. This year Kohl’s Department stores are an Energy Star Partner of the Year. Kohl’s earned this green award last year as well and was also named as the number one green retailer in Newsweek magazine’s Green Rankings.
Kohl’s in a department store chain based Wisconsin with over 1,000 stores across the United States. Kohl’s offers both exclusive and national brands in the moderate price range including clothes, shoes and home décor.
Kohl’s Department Stores began participating in the Energy Star program in 1998. Kohl’s West Bend, Wisconsin store became the first Kohl’s department store location to become Energy Star certified in 2008. In 2009 over 200 Kohl’s store locations became Energy Star certified. Kohl’s now has over 400 Energy Star locations, which is more than any other specialty department store nationwide.
“Kohl’s is leading the fight against climate change through greater energy efficiency,” said Gina McCarthy, EPA assistant administrator for air and radiation. She adds,
“Kohl’s robust energy management program is a model for others and affirms that energy efficiency is our most cost-effective climate strategy.”
According to the EPA, the amount of energy conserved by Kohl’s last year is enough to operate over 23,000 average homes in the U.S. for a year.
Compared to similar buildings, Energy Star awarded commercial buildings:
-Use 35% less energy
-Generate one third less carbon dioxide
Kohl’s Executive vice president of store planning and logistics, Ken Bonning, says, “Kohl’s recognition as an Energy Star Partner of the Year reflects that business can be successful while being responsible stewards of the environment,” and that “this collaboration plays a significant role toward achieving our short-term goal of being carbon neutral by the end of the year and ongoing goal of reducing our environmental footprint.
How did Kohl’s go green?
All Kohl’s stores participate in an Energy Star Portfolio Manager, an operating system that allows the company to constantly assess where they can save energy and water
Kohl’s stores also utilize highly efficient lighting and occupancy sensors.
Kohl’s has constantly reduced waste through recycling and reducing.
Kohl’s upgraded to LCD monitors, which use 30% less electricity and also produce less heat.
Kohl’s has 81 solar operated stores in six states.
In addition to the 35 Energy Star Partner of the Year awards, the program also offers 37 awards for Sustained Excellence and 17 awards for Excellence. Other Energy Star Partner award winners include Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Bosch Home Appliances and Lowe’s Companies, Inc. Food Lion, LLC, 3M, Marriot International, Ford Motor Company, Toyota, North America and J.C. Penny are among the Sustained Excellence winners and Best Buy and Samsung are two of the companies earning an Excellence award for their eco-friendly practices.
Energy Star awards winners will receive the award during a ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 18, 2010.

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