Menomonee Falls, WI — Kohl’s new store prototype has achieved LEED Gold pre-certification using the LEED for Retail: New Construction rating system.
Menomonee Falls, WI — Kohl’s Department Stores’ new store prototype has achieved LEED Gold pre-certification using the LEED for Retail: New Construction rating system, established by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) and verified by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), making Kohl’s the first company in the nation to achieve this designation in the LEED Volume Program launched in November 2010.
Beginning in spring 2012, all new Kohl’s stores will be designed and constructed using the LEED Gold pre-certified prototype and will pursue LEED certification post-construction. The Gold pre-certified prototype will replace the company’s current new store prototype from the LEED Volume Pilot Program, which is pre-certified LEED Silver and has been utilized to construct new stores since fall 2008. To date, more than 90 newly constructed Kohl’s stores nationwide built to the pilot prototype have earned LEED certification at the Silver or Certified level, with nearly 20 more expected to receive certification in the coming months.
“As Kohl’s continues to invest in our new and existing stores, environmentally responsible building design, construction and operation is a significant consideration and focus area,” says John Worthington, Kohl’s chief administrative officer. “Not only do we want to ensure that our stores and facilities provide a convenient, fresh and exciting destination for our customers and partners, we want to do so in a way that demonstrates sustainable practices and principles of leadership for our communities, business partners and industry. We have implemented aggressive efforts to LEED-certify our stores and aim to reach 300 total LEED certifications by the end of next year and more than 500 by 2015.”
Kohl’s pre-certified LEED Gold store prototype utilizes the most recent version of the LEED rating system, which was launched in 2009. The rating system includes heightened standards of energy efficiency, water use, regional priorities and an increased focus on sustainable sites and alternative transportation.
In addition to construction of its new stores, Kohl’s integrates sustainable practices into its existing stores through the LEED Volume Pilot Program for Operations and Maintenance. Under this program, Kohl’s existing store prototype was pre-certified at the Gold level in 2011. Compared to new construction projects, these stores are LEED certified based on their sustainable operations and maintenance policies such as energy and water-use efficiency and performance, sustainable cleaning, purchasing, recycling and more. To date, more than 100 existing Kohl’s stores nationwide have received LEED certification under LEED for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance with more than 60 locations registered and in a performance period.
Kohl’s has more than 200 total LEED-certified stores to date with features that include regional and recycled building materials, energy efficient building design and building automation systems, water efficient plumbing and irrigation, improved indoor air quality, green cleaning practices, operational recycling and an environmental education program.
Kohl’s is also a leader in efforts surrounding the use and support of renewable energy. To date, the company has more than 100 solar locations in nine states. Kohl’s also ranks first in retail and second overall on the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s list of top green power partners, purchasing enough green power to meet 100% of its purchased electricity use. In spring 2009, the company also launched its first two wind locations at its Findlay, Ohio, distribution center and Corpus Christi, Texas, store. In recognition of these efforts, Kohl’s was named a 2010 Green Power Partner of the Year and ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year. The company has more than 600 ENERGY STAR-labeled stores nationwide.
Additional information about Kohl’s environmental efforts is available at www.KohlsGreenScene.com.