HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill.,
April 6, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized Sears
Holdings (NASDAQ: SHLD) with a 2015 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year
– Sustained Excellence Award for its continued leadership in
protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency
achievements. Sears Holdings' accomplishments will be recognized in
Washington, D.C. on April 20, 2015.
Sears Holdings, an ENERGY STAR partner since 1998, will be
honored for its long-term commitment to energy efficiency. The
company's related accomplishments in 2014 included:
- Energy Savings: Sears Holdings continues to have success
year-over-year in reducing its energy consumption. In 2014, the
company's total weather normalized source energy usage decreased by
nearly 950,000,000 kbtu, a reduction of three percent over last
year, and the average weather normalized source energy intensity
declined to 122.8 kbtu/sqft, a three percent reduction over 2013.
Sears Holdings reduced electricity usage by more than 300 million
kWh, an 11 percent savings over the previous year.
- Product Selection: In 2014, Sears Holdings introduced
new energy-efficient technology for Kenmore® laundry and
refrigeration, as well as continued development of the connected
appliance/home energy management portfolio that will be introduced
in spring 2015. Our Consumer Electronics team expanded their
customer awareness of the ENERGY STAR brand through partnerships
with Nakamichi, Samsung and various utilities.
- Training: Sears Holdings made enhancements to supplier
training sessions for store associates, and created new online
education tools for in-home service technicians and energy audit
teams. The Home Appliance associate product training road show was
reestablished in 2014, including highlights for ENERGY STAR
certification.
- Marketing: Sears Holdings further enhanced the ENERGY
STAR brand presence on our Shop Your Way platform and expect the
opportunities to promote the ENERGY STAR brand through this unique
channel continue to grow. Additionally, we improved ENERGY STAR
messaging on the company's online/mobile sites in an effort to
promote consistent branding and ease of search/use for our
members.
- Partnership: Sears Holdings' collaborative relationship
with our utility partners continues to differentiate us in our
effort to reduce energy consumption through the promotion of ENERGY
STAR certified products. We optimize these relationships to help
drive traffic to our stores, increase success for the programs, and
add awareness of the ENERGY STAR brand. We leveraged our
partnerships to promote ENERGY STAR through our ENERGY STAR and
Earth Day Atrium events, and Green
Leadership Energy Summit.
"Sears Holdings values our partnership with ENERGY STAR and is
honored to receive the Partner of the Year Award," said
William Hutchinson, Chief Supply
Chain Officer, Sears Holdings. "We remain committed to continuing
our work to help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase energy
efficiency and protect the environment through our operational
excellence, Kenmore product offerings and partnerships with local
utilities."
Since its inception in 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners have
helped prevent a total of more than two billion metric tons of
greenhouse gas emissions. In 2013 alone, ENERGY STAR and its
partners provided more than $11
billion in societal benefits due to reducing damages from
climate change.
"Through their sustained participation with ENERGY STAR, Sears
Holdings is helping Americans save money, save energy, and do their
part to reduce our nation's greenhouse gas emissions that fuel
climate change," said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. "I applaud Sears Holdings for
earning the EPA's highest ENERGY STAR award, the 2015 Partner of
the Year – Sustained Excellence Award, demonstrating a strong
commitment to energy efficiency and to preserving a healthy planet
for future generations."
The 2015 Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Awards are
given to a variety of organizations to recognize their
contributions to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through superior
energy efficiency achievements. These winners have reduced
greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals,
and employing innovative energy efficiency approaches. These awards
recognize ongoing leadership across the ENERGY STAR program,
including energy-efficient products, services, new homes, and
buildings in the commercial, industrial, and public sectors.
For a complete list of 2015 winners and information, and more
information about ENERGY STAR's awards program, visit
www.energystar.gov/awardwinners.
About Sears Holdings Corporation
Sears Holdings
Corporation (NASDAQ: SHLD) is a leading integrated retailer focused
on seamlessly connecting the digital and physical shopping
experiences to serve our members – wherever, whenever and however
they want to shop. Sears Holdings is home to Shop Your
Way®, a social shopping platform offering members
rewards for shopping at Sears and Kmart as well as with other
retail partners across categories important to them. The company
operates through its subsidiaries, including Sears, Roebuck
and Co. and Kmart Corporation, with full-line and specialty retail
stores across the United States.
For more information, visit www.searsholdings.com.
About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR® is the
simple choice for energy efficiency achievements. For more than 20
years, people across America have looked to EPA's ENERGY STAR
program for guidance on how to save energy, save money, and protect
the environment. Behind each blue label is a product, building, or
home that is independently certified to use less energy and cause
fewer of the emissions that contribute to climate change. Today,
ENERGY STAR is the most widely recognized symbol for energy
efficiency in the world, helping families and businesses save
$300 billion on utility bills, while
reducing greenhouse gas emissions by two billion metric tons since
1992. Join the millions who are already making a difference at
energystar.gov.
NEWS MEDIA CONTACT:
Sears Holdings Public
Relations
(847) 286-8371
Kristinn Leonhart
ENERGY STAR
(202) 343-9062
Leonhart.Kristinn@epa.gov
To view the original version on PR Newswire,
visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/epa-recognizes-sears-holdings-with-2015-energy-star-partner-of-the-year---sustained-excellence-award-300061354.html
SOURCE Sears Holdings