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Kohl's Department Stores' New Rego Park Location in Queens, N.Y. is First Tenant in Rego Center to Pursue LEED Certification

Kohl's continues partnership with U.S. Green Building Council to set industry guidelines for greener buildings through pilot programs

Kohl's Department Stores' New Rego Park Location in Queens, N.Y. is First Tenant in Rego Center to Pursue LEED Certification

Kohl's continues partnership with U.S. Green Building Council to set industry guidelines for greener buildings through pilot programs

Published 02-24-10

Submitted by Kohl's Department Stores

Kohl's Department Stores (NYSE: KSS) today announced two company milestones as part of an ongoing partnership with the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to pilot programs that help set guidelines for greener buildings nationwide "“ the opening of Kohl's first store built according to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Retail Commercial Interiors Pilot guidelines and the registration of 58 existing Kohl's stores for LEED certification. These efforts are part of an ongoing strategy to ensure that new and existing Kohl's stores are built and operated in an environmentally responsible way.

Kohl's Rego Park store, opening in Queens, N.Y. in March 2010, is expected to bring approximately 250 jobs to the area. It will be the company's first LEED for Retail Commercial Interiors project and its first LEED project using an existing high-rise, multi-use building as a shell for store construction. Kohl's is the first retail tenant in Rego Center to pursue LEED certification for its store.

According to USGBC, LEED for Retail Commercial Interiors is a green building certification process that gives retail tenants the power to make sustainable choices such as reducing water consumption and construction waste. The certification recognizes green spaces that are healthy, productive places to work, are less costly to operate and maintain and have a reduced environmental footprint, according to USGBC.

"LEED stores are one more way Kohl's is demonstrating that retailers can deliver on customer expectations while also being environmentally responsible," said Ken Bonning, Kohl’s executive vice president of store planning and logistics. "As we expand our presence in the New York City area, we're pleased to offer Rego Park shoppers a store that reinforces the shared environmental values of the company and the community."

Green features of Kohl's Rego Park store include:

  • Recycled and locally obtained building materials

  • Construction waste that is carefully managed and sorted in an off-site facility to maximize opportunities for recycling

  • Low volatile organic compound (VOC) building supplies used to improve air quality

  • Water-conserving plumbing fixtures that will reduce water consumption by more than 30 percent

  • Green cleaning products and procedures

  • Numerous opportunities for alternative transportation, including mass transit (rail and bus) due to urban location

  • Bike rack and carpool parking

There will also be a display inside the Rego Park store to educate shoppers about Kohl's environmental initiatives and ongoing commitment to sustainability.

While the Rego Park store is Kohl's first Retail Commercial Interiors project, the company has been constructing ground-up, stand-alone stores according to LEED for Retail guidelines since fall 2008 using its LEED pre-certified store prototype. To date, 48 Kohl's stores are officially certified with additional locations expected to follow in the coming months. The company's Milwaukee-based photo studio is also LEED-certified at the Gold level.

Kohl's Pursues LEED Certification for Existing Stores through USGBC Pilot
In addition to piloting LEED certification programs for new stores, Kohl's is also working with USGBC on a separate pilot program for LEED Volume Certification for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance. The 58 existing Kohl's locations registered under this rating system will help set LEED guidelines among existing buildings nationwide. These stores are also expected to be the company's first locations that are LEED certified, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR labeled and solar.

"The Kohl's LEED projects and the company's commitment to green building can be viewed as an industry case study for how businesses of every size and scope can be environmental stewards," said Rick Fedrizzi, President, CEO and Founding Chair, USGBC. "Kohl's is exemplifying tremendous business leadership as these stores are contributing positively to our collective environmental challenges. Because these buildings are using less water, energy and natural resources, they will also benefit from financial savings throughout the lifecycle of these buildings."

As Kohl's works toward certification for existing stores, the company is able to take advantage of environmentally responsible practices already in place, including: solar and on-site energy generation; energy management systems; green power purchases; recycling and green housekeeping.

Committed to Environmental Responsibility
Green building design is one of Kohl's key environmental strategies, along with maximizing energy efficiency, minimizing waste, reducing emissions and encouraging environmental values. Notable achievements include:

  • Kohl's announced in December 2009 a commitment to reach net zero carbon dioxide emissions by the end of 2010. This means that Kohl's will continue to invest in projects to reduce the same amount of greenhouse gas emissions that the company emits into the atmosphere.

  • Newsweek ranked Kohl's the number one green retailer in the publication’s 2009 Green Rankings.

  • Kohl's was recognized EPA as a 2009 Green Power Partner of the Year.

  • More than 400 Kohl's stores to date have earned EPA's ENERGY STAR label for superior energy efficiency and performance. Kohl's has more ENERGY STAR-labeled locations than any other specialty department store.

  • Kohl's is the largest retail host of solar power in North America with 81 solar locations in six states.

For more information about Kohl's environmental initiatives, visit www.kohlsgreenscene.com.

About Kohl's Department Stores
Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Kohl's (NYSE: KSS) is a family-focused, value-oriented specialty department store offering moderately priced, exclusive and national brand apparel, shoes, accessories, beauty and home products in an exciting shopping environment. Kohl's operates 1,059 stores in 49 states. A company committed to the communities it serves, Kohl's has raised more than $126 million for children's initiatives nationwide through its Kohl's Cares for Kids® philanthropic program, which operates under Kohl's Cares, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kohl's Department Stores, Inc. For a list of store locations and information, or for the added convenience of shopping online, visit www.kohls.com.

About the United States Green Building Council
The Washington, D.C.-based U.S. Green Building Council is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future for our nation through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings.

With a community comprising 78 local affiliates, more than 17,000 member companies and organizations, and more than 131,000 LEED Accredited Professionals, USGBC is the driving force of an industry that is projected to contribute $554 billion to the U.S. gross domestic product from 2009-2013. USGBC leads an unlikely diverse constituency of builders and environmentalists, corporations and nonprofit organizations, elected officials and concerned citizens, and teachers and students.

Buildings in the United States are responsible for 39% of CO2 emissions, 40% of energy consumption, 13% water consumption and 15% of GDP per year, making green building a source of significant economic and environmental opportunity. Greater building efficiency can meet 85% of future U.S. demand for energy, and a national commitment to green building has the potential to generate 2.5 million American jobs.

Kohl's Department Stores logo

Kohl's Department Stores

Kohl's Department Stores

Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., Kohl’s (NYSE: KSS) is a family-focused, value-oriented specialty department store offering moderately priced, exclusive and national brand apparel, shoes, accessories, beauty and home products in an exciting shopping environment. With a commitment to environmental leadership, Kohl’s operates 1,155 stores in 49 states. In support of the communities it serves, Kohl’s has raised more than $231 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 a list of store locations and information, or for the added convenience of shopping online, visit www.Kohls.com, join the discussion on Facebook (facebook.com/Kohls) or Twitter (twitter.com/Kohls) or get inspired on Pinterest (pinterest.com/Kohls) and Instagram (instagram.com/Kohls).

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