Sustainability

J.C. Penney is pursuing a possible sale and partial leaseback of its headquarters building in Plano, Texas, as part of an ongoing effort to reduce debt and manage expenses.

The company announced Friday that a combination of favorable market conditions and a surplus of available square footage within the building make this an attractive real estate opportunity.

Alexandria, Va. -- EDENS announced its residential partnership with Gables Residential on the development of 530 First Street in Alexandria, Virginia.

530 First Street will be the next major step in the evolution of Old Town North. EDENS will spearhead a new retail to the neighborhood. The LEED-certified, mixed-use project will offer 232 units of distinct apartment homes above 50,000 sq. ft. of retail.

The number of U.S. businesses with solar energy installations grew to a new high in 2015. Enterprises ranging from family-run companies to some of the country’s biggest corporations are producing their own energy, cutting operating expenses, and achieving environmental sustainability.

A recent report from the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) provides data and insights into the diverse mix of corporate offices, office buildings, retail, manufacturing, data centers, distribution and logistics centers, and convention centers that have gone solar.

Lumber Liquidators has been handed its penalty by the U.S. Department of Justice over allegations of illegal sourcing, which will amount to $13.2 million in fines and forfeitures.

Online deal provider Groupon is attempting to increase supply chain efficiency in a way that will allow it to offer even more and better discounts.

Groupon is partnering with Optoro, a platform for returned and excess inventory, to better process returns for its Groupon Goods business. Groupon Goods offers discounts on physical items.

Ikea Canada is building a 328,000-sq. ft. store Halifax, Nova Scotia, that will feature a special focus on energy efficiency and waste management.

The store will take roughly 14-16 months to build once ground has been broken in summer 2016. It will be built to operate as the retailer’s most sustainable store in Canada, and include a rooftop solar photovoltaic installation that provides electricity to the store and a geothermal energy generation system to support heating and cooling needs.

In pursuit of its altruistic mission of creating a better everyday life for people, Ikea’s efforts go beyond selling opening price point home goods in cavernous stores.

This year's Ikea Foundation Soft Toys for Education campaign, which ran from Nov. 1 through Dec. 26, raised over $1.4 million in the U.S. alone through soft toys, Ikea Family children's books and card games sales.