2Sustain

Last week, Kohl’s Department Stores announced that over the past four years, the company has improved its energy efficiency by more than 20 percent –and saved nearly $50 million in electricity costs.

Kohl’s says 500 of its stores have now earned the Energy Star label from the US Environmental Protection Agency and US Department of Energy and that beginning in spring 2011, all newly constructed stores will pursue Designed to Earn the Energy Star designation, which is awarded for building designs with an estimated energy performance that meets Energy Star criteria.

The company has pursued a wide range of energy efficiency initiatives, including:

• Lighting upgrades (replacing 75 watt incandescent bulbs with 24 watt metal halide bulbs, e.g.)

• Implementing building automation systems and central energy management systems

• Optimizing control of variable speed fans on commercial rooftop HVAC units

• Installing high-efficiency heating and cooling systems

• Increasing use of demand response controls

Kohl’s also monitors performance of all stores through the ENERGY STAR Portfolio Manager, which takes into account building occupants, hours of operation and energy use and normalizes data according to local weather.

“Reaching the milestone of our 500th Energy Star store is exciting for our company and our associates. We are building on our commitment to drive energy efficiency companywide as we continue to near our goal of being carbon neutral,” says Ken Bonning, Kohl’s executive vice president of store planning and logistics. “Energy management is an ongoing effort, and Designed to Earn designation for newly constructed stores will help us continue to achieve the high environmental standards we have in place for our facilities.”