PLANO, Texas, March 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- In recognition of its continued commitment to strategic energy management, J.C. Penney Company, Inc. (NYSE: JCP) was honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) with the ENERGY STAR Award for Sustained Excellence in Energy Management. The award will be presented at an ENERGY STAR awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on March 31.

Effective energy management supports the environmental goals in JCPenney's comprehensive corporate social responsibility program, JCPenney C.A.R.E.S., which integrates the Company's efforts to achieve positive impacts in the areas of Community, Associates, Responsible Sourcing, Environment and Sustainable Products.

"EPA is delighted to recognize JCPenney with the 2009 ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence award," said Kathleen Hogan, Director of the Climate Protection Partnerships Division at the U.S. EPA. "JCPenney's leadership on energy efficiency has positively impacted their bottom line and our global environment, showing us all what can be accomplished through sustained commitment and action."

JCPenney has been a member of the U.S. government's ENERGY STAR program since 1999 and was honored as an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year in 2007 and 2008. This year, JCPenney earned the prestigious Sustained Excellence Award "“ the first retailer to be so honored for its efforts in using energy efficiently in facility operations and integrating superior energy management into its overall organizational strategy. Award winners are selected from more than 12,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.

Using the data and tools available through the ENERGY STAR program, JCPenney has improved energy efficiency throughout its operations. In 2008, the Company reduced energy use and comparable CO2 emissions across its building portfolio by more than 80 million pounds. JCPenney continues to implement energy conservation projects and engage its 150,000 Associates to seek out innovative ways to save energy.

"ENERGY STAR's guidelines for superior energy management are integrated throughout our engineering and facility management operations," said Michael Dastugue, JCPenney Senior Vice President and Director of Property Development. "The knowledge, benchmarks and best practices available through ENERGY STAR have helped us substantially improve energy efficiency, resulting in environmental and financial benefits."

JCPenney promotes strategic energy management through active participation in ENERGY STAR. When the new ENERGY STAR efficiency benchmark for retail stores was introduced in October 2007, four JCPenney stores in Washington state became the first in the nation to qualify under the new standard. Currently, 52 JCPenney stores, as well as the JCPenney Home Office in Plano, Texas, have qualified for the ENERGY STAR Building Label, and the Company has set a goal to achieve ENERGY STAR certification of at least 200 stores across the country. To be certified, stores must achieve an ENERGY STAR efficiency rating in the top quartile for all retail stores while maintaining appropriate levels of comfort and air quality.

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.

About JCPenney C.A.R.E.S.
JCPenney has built a legacy of operating in an ethical and socially responsible manner. In 2007, the Company launched its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative "“ C.A.R.E.S. "“ stemming from the vision that JCPenney cares for its Community, Associates, Responsible Sourcing, Environment and Sustainable Products. The Company's commitment to social responsibility reflects its philosophy that "Every Day Matters" "“ for its customers, Associates, communities, investors and suppliers. Additional information on JCPenney's CSR initiatives can be found at http://www.jcpenney.net/social_resp/

About JCPenney
JCPenney is one of America's leading retailers, operating 1,093 department stores throughout the United States and Puerto Rico, as well as one of the largest apparel and home furnishing sites on the Internet, www.jcp.com, and the nation’s largest general merchandise catalog business. Through these integrated channels, JCPenney offers a wide array of national, private and exclusive brands which reflect the Company's commitment to providing customers with style and quality at a smart price. Traded as "JCP" on the New York Stock Exchange, the Company posted revenue of $18.5 billion in 2008 and is executing its strategic plan to be the growth leader in the retail industry. Key to this strategy is JCPenney's "Every Day Matters" brand positioning, intended to generate deeper, more emotionally driven relationships with customers by fully engaging the Company's 150,000 Associates to offer encouragement, provide ideas and inspire customers every time they shop with JCPenney.

About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 12,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, buildings and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).

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