JCPenney first retailer to win 'Energy Star' award from DOE
05 Mar '09
4 min read
The Company also became the first national retailer to receive Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR (DEES) certification for two of its stores in 2008. JCPenney has expanded this initiative and intends to seek DEES status for all future new stores. To be eligible, building construction documents must be 95 percent complete and receive an energy-efficiency rating of 75 or higher on a 100-point scale.
The Company has invested more than $100 million in the past six years to install energy management technology, lighting retrofits and high-efficiency heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems in its stores. More than 800 stores are now equipped with an Energy Management System (EMS), which provides remote monitoring of the store's electrical and mechanical systems, schedules the operation of lighting and HVAC equipment, monitors store comfort levels and identifies opportunities for saving energy.
In addition, construction is under way in Fairview, Texas, on the Company's first store expected to obtain LEED certification, and JCPenney is one of 21 companies selected to participate in the U.S. Department of Energy's Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative to achieve cost-effective energy savings through innovation. JCPenney is also exploring renewable energy projects. Nine stores are currently hosting rooftop solar power installations, and a pilot wind power project is being installed at one distribution center.