Kohl’s Department Stores (NYSE: KSS) today announced that the company will be honored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a recipient of the 2012 ENERGY STAR Award for Sustained Excellence during a ceremony held tonight in Washington, D.C. The Sustained Excellence Award recognizes Kohl’s long-term commitment to protecting the environment through energy efficiency initiatives. Kohl’s was recognized by EPA in 2010 and 2011 as an ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year, and in 2011 also became the first retailer to be named an EPA Green Power Partner of the Year for three consecutive years.

“Kohl’s continues to make strides in energy efficiency every year, and we are pleased to share that more than 60 percent of Kohl’s stores nationwide – 700 locations – have earned the ENERGY STAR label,” said John Worthington, Kohl’s chief administrative officer. “But, we’re not stopping there. Our teams collaborate daily to review current projects and discuss new opportunities for energy management and cost savings. We continue to add new solar locations, grow our green power purchases and educate our associates and business partners about the importance of being good environmental stewards. We strive toward new goals each year and look forward to achieving and surpassing our goal of 800 ENERGY STAR-labeled locations by 2015.”

With 590 ENERGY STAR-labeled locations at the end of 2010, Kohl’s began 2011 with a goal of expanding the number of labeled locations to 650. By conducting detailed energy audits throughout the year, an additional 86 Kohl’s stores were awarded the ENERGY STAR label last year. According to EPA, on average, commercial buildings that earn the ENERGY STAR label use 35 percent less energy and generate one-third less carbon dioxide than similar buildings. As of 2011, all newly constructed Kohl’s stores pursue ENERGY STAR’s “Designed to Earn” designation with the intent of earning the ENERGY STAR label once built. These stores are eligible to earn the ENERGY STAR label after maintaining superior energy performance for one year in operation.

Kohl’s has been a member of ENERGY STAR since 1998 and uses the ENERGY STAR portfolio manager to track energy performance of all facilities, assess opportunities for enhanced energy performance and implement best practices. The company began installing building automation control systems in 1982 and today operates all store locations via a centralized energy management system that controls most interior and exterior lighting, heating and cooling. Additional energy management initiatives include energy audits at stores nationwide, close partnership with electric utilities, installation of variable frequency drives to help regulate energy consumption and investments in high-efficiency lighting.

In 2011, Kohl’s also furthered its commitment to the use and support of renewable energy by purchasing more than 1.4 billion kWh of green power, enough to offset more than 100 percent of the company’s purchased electricity use. Kohl’s is also one of the largest single hosts of solar electricity production in North America with more than 120 solar locations in nine states, including California, Wisconsin, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland, Oregon, Colorado, Pennsylvania and Arizona. Also in 2011, Kohl’s launched its first wind locations at its Corpus Christi, Texas store and Findlay, Ohio distribution center and installed electric vehicle charging stations at 38 stores across 13 states.

Additional information about Kohl’s energy initiatives and environmental strategies is available at www.KohlsGreenScene.com. Kohl’s comprehensive environmental program, Advancing Environmental Solutions, is part of the Kohl’s Cares® philanthropic platform, committed to making communities happier, healthier, greener places to live and work. Additional information about Kohl’s Cares is available at www.Kohls.com/Cares. For more information on the ENERGY STAR program, visit www.energystar.gov.

About Kohl’s 

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 1,134 stores in 49 states. In support of the communities it serves, Kohl’s has raised more than $208 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, or join the discussion on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/kohls or Twitter http://twitter.com/kohls.

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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