Kohl’s, Office Depot Add More Energy-Efficient Stores

Continuing on their path to save energy and cut costs at their retail stores, Kohl’s Department Stores and Office Depot have recently added to their portfolio of energy-efficient stores.

Kohl’s Department Stores has celebrated its 500th Energy Star store milestone in Menomonee Falls, Wis. The retail store chain estimates it has lowered its electricity costs by nearly $50 million through energy-efficiency programs over the past four years.

The retailer will pursue Designed to Earn the Energy Star designation for all newly constructed stores starting in spring 2011. Five Kohl’s stores in 2010 have already received the Designed to Earn designation.

Energy-efficiency programs implemented at the stores include replacing 75-watt incandescent bulbs with 24-watt metal halide bulbs, implementing building automation systems and better controlling variable speed fans on commercial rooftop HVAC units. The retailer estimates that these and other energy management initiatives have improved energy efficiency by more than 20 percent primarily in its stores.

Kohl’s has been a member of Energy Star since 1998 and earned the 2010 Energy Star Partner of the Year award.

Kohl’s recently announced plans to convert 10 of its 23 Colorado stores to solar power by the end of this year.

Energy Star Leaders prevented the emissions of more than 220,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide and saved more than $48 million across their commercial building portfolios in 2009.

Meanwhile, Office Depot has opened its first store registered by the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Commercial Interiors (CI). The office supply retail chain expects the Austin, Texas, store to be certified in a few months.

Beginning with the Austin store, all new and relocated North American Office Depot retail locations will receive LEED CI certification, including 14 stores planned for 2010.

Office Depot opened its first LEED Gold certified store in 2008. The store lowers emissions by 23 percent and is about 15 percent more energy efficient (per square foot) than other Office Depot retail locations in Austin.

Office Depot joined the Environmental Protection Agency’s Energy Star Commercial Buildings Partner program in May.