Kohl’s Department Stores (NYSE: KSS) will be recognized today by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a recipient of the 2014 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award for the company’s continued leadership in protecting the environment through superior energy efficiency initiatives. An EPA ENERGY STAR member since 1998, Kohl’s currently has more than 860 ENERGY STAR-certified locations, more than 70 percent of Kohl’s stores nationwide and more than any other U.S. retailer to date. In 2013 alone, 69 Kohl’s stores received ENERGY STAR certification, surpassing the company’s goal to reach 800 certified locations by 2015. Award winners are selected from the 16,000 organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program.

“Kohl’s is proud to be a leader in energy-efficient practices and set a positive example in how we design and operate our facilities,” said Ken Bonning, Kohl’s senior executive vice president. “Not only do energy-efficient buildings reduce our carbon footprint, investments in features like lighting upgrades and solar installations make smart business sense. We continuously challenge ourselves to do more. This award from EPA acknowledges our ongoing efforts to conserve resources through the use of technology and valuable partnerships."

Kohl’s uses the ENERGY STAR portfolio manager to track energy performance of all facilities, assess opportunities for enhanced energy performance and implement best practices. The company also constructs new stores with the intent to pursue ENERGY STAR’s “Designed to Earn” designation. These stores are eligible to earn ENERGY STAR certification after maintaining superior energy performance for one year in operation. In addition to this year’s award, Kohl’s received a Sustained Excellence Award in 2012 and 2013, as well as Partner of the Year Awards in 2010 and 2011.

“Kohl’s has earned EPA’s highest ENERGY STAR award – the 2014 Partner of the Year – Sustained Excellence Award – because of their unwavering commitment to helping consumers become increasingly more energy efficient,” said EPA Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe.

Kohl’s has also set a goal through the Department of Energy Better Buildings Challenge to reduce its energy use in more than 112 million square feet of occupied building space by at least 20 percent by 2020.

Kohl’s customers can check to see if their local Kohl’s stores are ENERGY STAR-certified by looking for the ENERGY STAR decals on the front entrances of certified stores, or by visiting the map of stores at www.KohlsGreen.com. Kohl’s comprehensive environmental program, Advancing Environmental Solutions, is part of the Kohl’s Cares® philanthropic platform, committed to making communities happier, healthier, greener places to live and work. Additional information about Kohl’s community commitment and environmental initiatives is available at www.Kohls.com/Cares and www.KohlsGreen.com. For more information on the ENERGY STAR program, visit www.Energystar.gov.

About Kohl’s

Based in Menomonee Falls, Wis., 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. With a commitment to environmental leadership, Kohl’s operates 1,162 stores in 49 states. In support of the communities it serves, Kohl’s has raised more than $257 million for children’s initiatives nationwide through its Kohl’s Cares® cause merchandise program, which operates under Kohl's Cares, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Kohl's Department Stores, Inc. For a list of store locations and information, or for the added convenience of shopping online, visit www.Kohls.com, join the discussion on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/Kohls) or Twitter (http://twitter.com/Kohls) or get inspired on Pinterest (http://pinterest.com/Kohls) and Instagram (http://instagram.com/Kohls).

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions through increased energy efficiency. Today, ENERGY STAR offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money, and help protect the environment for future generations. 16,000 organizations are ENERGY STAR partners committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes, and buildings. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).