Kohl’s
Department Stores (NYSE: KSS) today announced that the company has
once again been recognized with a 2014 Sustained Excellence in Green
Power Award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The
annual awards honor leading green power users for their commitment and
contribution to helping advance the development of the nation’s
voluntary green power market. Most recently, Kohl’s added solar arrays
to 19 locations in 2013 and five locations in 2014, for a total of 161
solar locations in 13 states representing more than 50 megawatts of
power. The company also set and achieved an initial goal of achieving
net zero emissions from 2010-2012 and in 2013, extended this goal three
more years through 2015.
“As a national retailer, it is important for Kohl’s to be a good
corporate citizen. We aim to be a corporate sustainability leader, which
is demonstrated in our commitment to on-site generation thorough our
solar program and a continued investment in support of green power,”
said Ken Bonning, Kohl’s senior executive vice president. “Through these
initiatives and our sustainable operations strategies, we are pleased to
share that we are on track to meet our goal of achieving net zero
emissions through 2015.”
Commitment to Green Power
With 161 solar locations that generate more than 50 megawatts of on-site
green power, Kohl’s is one of the largest hosts of solar electricity in
North America. Each Kohl’s store with solar arrays generates enough
power to offset 20 to 50 percent of the store’s energy use. In addition,
Kohl’s also has two wind locations – its Findlay, Ohio distribution
center and Corpus Christi, Texas store.
The company is also currently purchasing more than 1.5 billion
kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually. Combined with the on-site
green power generation, this is enough green power to meet 105 percent
of the company’s total U.S.-based electricity use. According to the EPA,
Kohl's current green power use of more than 1.5 billion kWh is
equivalent to avoiding the carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions of nearly
223,000 passenger vehicles per year, or is the equivalent amount of
electricity needed to power nearly 146,000 average American homes
annually.
“EPA applauds Kohl’s Department Stores for its continued, distinguished
commitment to expanding its use of green power and thereby reducing its
climate impacts,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “The Sustained
Excellence in Green Power award is indicative of Kohl’s Department
Stores’ environmental leadership and is a well-deserved honor.”
Leadership in Sustainable Operations
Kohl’s also has longstanding leadership in operational efficiency,
including waste reduction, building design and operation,
transportation, supply chain and energy management. More than 80 percent
of Kohl’s stores have earned EPA’s ENERGY
STAR® certification, and more than a third have earned Leadership in
Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S.
Green Building Council. Kohl’s is also an active participant in the
U.S. Department of Energy’s Better
Buildings Challenge. Through this program, the company has committed
to reduce its energy use in more than 112 million square feet of
occupied building space by at least 20 percent by 2020.
Kohl's Department Stores is one of only two organizations nationwide to
receive a Sustained Excellence in Green Power award this year. The award
will be presented by the EPA at an event held in conjunction with the
2014 Renewable Energy Markets Conference in Sacramento, California on
December 3, 2014. Kohl’s joined EPA’s Green Power Partnership in 2006,
and currently ranks as No. 2 on EPA’s National Top 100 list, No. 1 on
the Top 30 Retail list, No. 7 on the Top 30 On-site list, and No. 2 on
the Fortune 500® Partners list. Kohl’s also appears on the Long-term
Contracts list recognizing Green Power Partners that have made long-term
commitments to renewable energy use. Each list highlights EPA Green
Power Partners using the most renewable energy annually as of September
23, 2014. EPA updates its Top Partner Lists quarterly at www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/.
Additional information about Kohl’s environmental efforts is available
at www.KohlsGreen.com.
About Kohl's Department Stores
Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) is a leading specialty department store with 1,163
stores in 49 states. With a commitment to inspiring and empowering
families to lead fulfilled lives, the company offers amazing national
and exclusive brands, incredible savings and inspiring shopping
experiences in-store, online at Kohls.com and
via mobile devices. Committed to its communities, Kohl’s has raised more
than $257 million for children’s initiatives nationwide through its
Kohl’s Cares® cause merchandise program, which operates under Kohl's
Cares, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kohl's Department Stores,
Inc. For additional information about Kohl’s philanthropic and
environmental initiatives, visit www.Kohls.com/Cares. For
a list of store locations and information, or for the added convenience
of shopping online, visit www.Kohls.com.
Connect with Kohl’s:
Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/Kohls)
Twitter (http://twitter.com/Kohls)
Google+ (http://plus.google.com/+Kohls)
Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/Kohls)
Instagram (http://instagram.com/Kohls)
About EPA’s Green Power Partnership
The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages
organizations to buy green power as a way to reduce the environmental
impacts associated with purchased electricity use. The Partnership
currently has more than 1,300 Partner organizations collectively
purchasing billions of kilowatt-hours of green power annually. Partners
include a wide variety of leading organizations such as Fortune 500®
companies, small and medium sized businesses, local, state, and federal
governments, and colleges and universities. For additional information,
please visit http://www.epa.gov/greenpower.
About the Green Power Leadership Awards
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) co-sponsors the annual
Green Power Leadership Awards in conjunction with the Center for
Resource Solutions. EPA recognizes winners in the following awards
categories: Green Power Partner of the Year; Sustained Excellence in
Green Power; On-site Generation; Green Power Purchasing; Green Power
Community of the Year; and Green Power Supplier of the Year. EPA’s Green
Power Partner awards recognize the exceptional achievement among EPA
Green Power Partners who distinguish themselves through green power
procurement, market leadership, overall green power strategy, and
overall impact on the green power market. EPA’s Green Power Supplier
awards recognize green power suppliers for outstanding efforts,
initiatives and programs that significantly advance the development of
green power sources serving the voluntary market. The Awards are held in
conjunction with the Renewable Energy Markets Conference. For additional
information please visit http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/awards/.
Copyright Business Wire 2014