On the heels of its announced solar rollout, Kohl’s Department Stores says it will pursue LEED certification for every store to break ground in 2008 – or more than 80 locations.
The certifications are being pursued through the U.S. Green Building Council Portfolio Program and will appear in 28 states nationwide. LEED-certified stores will begin opening in fall 2008 and continue through 2009.
As of September 2006, there were only 25 LEED-certified retail locations nationwide; with Kohl’s program alone, that number will quadruple. The company was one of 17 organizations nationwide recognized last month by the EPA with a Green Power Leadership Award.
Some green features Kohl’s plans to include are low-flow toilets, high-efficiency heating and cooling systems and recycled and locally obtained building materials.