Award-winning programs support Kohl’s green mission (Stores.org)

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From December 2008

By Fiona Soltes
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The company, recipient of the EPA’s Green Power Leadership Award and ranked No. 2 on the agency’s list of top retail purchasers of renewable energy, is the world’s largest retail host of solar power. As of this fall, the Kohl’s solar program included panel systems in place on 60 store rooftops, with 20 more in various stages of construction. And that’s only the beginning of what Kohl’s hopes to accomplish.

“We have a focused green mission to be a leading environmentally responsible retailer by maximizing energy efficiency, minimizing waste, improving new building design, reducing climate-damaging emissions and encouraging environmental values,” says John Fojut, vice president of facilities for Kohl’s. The company incorporates environmentally friendly practices that are also fiscally responsible. “We are able to reduce our carbon footprint and reduce energy costs while maintaining a comfortable shopping environment for our customers,” he says.

Kohl’s entered a 20-year power purchase agreement with SunEdison, a leading solar energy service provider, in 2007. The agreement means the solar panels can be installed on Kohl’s rooftops without any capital outlay. Stores also remain open during the conversion process, at no inconvenience to customers. The first stores to receive the panels were in California, Wisconsin, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maryland and Oregon.
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Once the company’s solar efforts are complete (the goal is to activate 130 locations) more than 24 million pounds of carbon dioxide will be offset over the first year in California alone — the equivalent of removing about 2,300 cars from the nation’s roads.

Regardless of the state, however, the solar panels will provide up to 40 percent of the power needed for each individual location. The largest system is on the roof of the distribution center in San Bernardino, Calif., where 6,208 panels will have the capability to generate 1 megawatt of power under peak conditions.
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more: http://www.stores.org/Current_Issue/2008/12/GreenSidebar1.asp

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