Photo credit: goatopolis

Take that, Kohls!: Four JCPenney stores are the first retail buildings in the nation to earn the Energy Star label for "superior energy efficiency and environmental performance." Compared with similar stores around the country, the JCPenney stores—all located in Washington State—collectively spend almost a quarter of $1 million less every year on energy, avoiding over 3 million pounds of carbon dioxide annually (or the equivalent of greenhouse-gas emissions associated with the electricity use of around 200 homes.)

Out of the 5 million commercial buildings in the United States, retail buildings account for the largest energy bills, and are responsible for the second largest percentage of greenhouse-gas emissions. As of Oct 1, 2007, retail buildings—including department stores, supercenters, warehouse clubs, drugs stores, dollar stores, home-improvement centers/hardware, and apparel/specialty stores—can qualify for the Energy Star label if they rate in the top 25 percent of similar retail buildings nationwide. ::EPA