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Project

Kohl's Department Stores Are Solar (USA)

Credits: ©2010 Kohl's Green Scene

Kohl's entered into a power purchase agreement with SunEdison for a twenty-year term in 2007. As of May 2010, Kohl's had 88 solar power systems activated in California, Oregon, Colorado, Wisconsin, Connecticut, New Jersey and Maryland. Another ten are under construction. The store’s short-term goal is to have 100 activated solar locations on our stores' rooftops. As the largest single host of solar electricity production in North America, Kohl’s move will generate 25 megawatts of electricity in California alone when complete. This is greater than the electricity generation of the five largest photovoltaic systems in the U.S. combined and is equivalent to the electricity used by 3,087 California homes. It will offset more than 28 million pounds of carbon dioxide in the first year – the equivalent of taking 2,500 cars off the road. The systems will provide about 40 percent of each store's power. An average system on a California store will have 1,650 solar panels that will nearly cover the roof of the typical 88,000-square-foot building. Kohl's largest system is its Distribution Center in San Bernardino, Calif. It boasts 6,208 panels, and generates about 1 megawatt of power—enough to supply 400 homes on an annual basis. To further increase energy efficiency at all stores, the company installs central energy management systems that operate most of the interior and exterior lighting, and heating and cooling systems.

 

Kohl

SunEdison installs large scale solar arrays, such as this one on the roof of a Kohl’s department store. Ownership of the solar power systems is retained by SunEdison and the building owner purchases the solar electricity from SunEdison. SunEdison in turn profits from their investment by selling the electricity, collecting the rebates, tax credits and also selling the Renewable Energy Certificates generated along with the solar power. ©2010 Sunedison

Green Power Purchase
In 2006 Kohl's joined the Environmental Protection Agency Green Power Partnership to support the use and development of renewable energy. Kohl's began its solar program in California in 2007 with the activation of solar panels at its Laguna Niguel store. In 2009, it purchased more than 1,367,376,000 kilowatt hours of renewable energy credits for use in 2010. This purchase "greens" 100 percent of Kohl's total energy use. According to the EPA's Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator this purchase is equivalent to removing the annual emissions from 178,853 cars.

Kohl's was recognized three times by the EPA with a Green Leadership award for the company’s commitment to renewable energy. As of April 6, 2010, Kohl's ranked No. 1 on the EPA Green Power Partnership list in the retail sector for use of renewable energy and third overall in the U.S. Kohl's use of Green Power in kilowatt-hours (kwh) annually: in 2007 Kohl’s used 201,376,000 kWhs of green power for 20 percent of its power use; in 2008, it used 236,017,000 kWh for 20 percent of usage; 2009 saw 851,478,000 kWh of green power used for 71 percent of its energy use; and as of January 2010 Kohl’s had 100 percent of its power from renewable sources for a total of 1,367,376,000 kWhs.

Energy Star
Kohl's is a member of EPA's ENERGY STAR Program. The company measures the energy performance of its stores, scoring them on a scale of 1 to 100. Stores that achieve a score of 75 or higher are eligible for the ENERGY STAR label. This indicates they are among the top 25 percent of retail stores in the country for energy performance. Commercial buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR label use, on average, 35 percent less energy than similar buildings and generate one-third less carbon dioxide. As of May 2010, 476 Kohl's stores had earned the ENERGY STAR distinction. Kohl’s uses the ENERGY STAR portfolio manager to measure energy performance as it strives for ways to be more efficient. Kohl's was named 2010 Energy Star partner of the Year for Energy Management by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This distinction recognizes Kohl's commitment to energy management and reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.

Colorado Stores
In April 2010, Kohl announced that it would convert ten of its 23 Colorado Kohl's stores to solar power by the end of the year. Colorado will be the seventh state to have Kohl's locations with solar panels. Said Ken Bonning, Kohl's executive vice president of store planning and logistics, "Solar is an integral component of our environmental efforts and contributes toward our goal of being carbon neutral by the end of this year. We will continue to explore new opportunities to utilize solar power at our facilities nationwide." So far, solar installations are complete or underway at four Kohl's stores in Colorado - Southwest Denver, Thornton, Aurora East and Arapahoe Crossing. Each store will have more than 530 solar panels that together generate 112 kW - approximately 15 percent of the store's energy. Once solar panels at all ten initial Colorado stores are active, they are expected to collectively generate approximately 1.6 million kWh annually - the equivalent of powering 153 homes for a year.

Kohl's Colorado Locations Currently Active or Under Construction:


• Southwest Denver, 8444 S. Kipling Pkwy, Littleton, CO 80127

• Thornton, 12090 Colorado Blvd, Thornton, CO 80241

• Aurora East, 18307 E. Hampden Ave, Aurora, CO 80013

• Arapahoe Crossing, 6584 S. Parker Rd, Aurora, CO 80016


Colorado Kohl's Locations Currently in Solar Planning Stage:
• Westminster, 11875 Sheridan Blvd, Westminster, CO 80020

• Louisville, 919 West Dillon Rd, Louisville, CO 80027

• Greeley, 4224 Centerplace Drive, Greeley, CO 80634

• Arvada, 15680 W. 64th Ave, Arvada, CO 80007

• Aurora, 1350 S Ironton St. Unit 130, Aurora, CO 80012

• Lone Tree, 8660 South Quebec St, Lone Tree, CO 80124

Environmental Leadership
Energy efficiency, including solar, energy management and green power, continues to be a key focus for Kohl's as the company works to reduce its environmental footprint. Additional information about Kohl's environmental initiatives - including energy efficiency, building design, recycling program and efforts to reduce emissions - is available at Kohl's Green Scene. To view active solar locations by state, visit the Store Impact Map.

About Kohl's Department Stores
Based in Menomonee Falls, Wisconisn, USA, 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 1,067 stores in 49 states. 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.

 


Documents

  Kohl's Profile by SunEdison (315 kb)


Resources

Kohl's Green Scene

SunEdison (USA)