Sustainability

Basking Ridge, N.J. -- Verizon Wireless said Tuesday that its green retail store design has achieved pre-certification in the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Volume Program. 

Verizon Wireless is one of only eight retailers in the United States and the only wireless company to achieve pre-certification from the USGBC, according to the company.

By David Asselin, [email protected]

New York -- Standard & Poor's Ratings Services is further lowering its credit rating on J.C. Penney Co., attributing the move to a continuing weak performance.

J.C. Penney’s corporate credit rating has been lowered to "B+" from "BB-." The junk rating is four notches below investment grade. The move marks the second downgrade from S&P since mid-May.
 

East Cleveland, Ohio -- Walgreens recently upgraded its general lighting across 80% of the chain's nationwide locations, through a partnership with GE Lighting.

As part of its new lighting initiative, Walgreens said it has changed its lights to the new GE F25 T8 linear fluorescent tubes, which is designed to save thousands of dollars as it impacts more than 4.3 million lights at nearly 7,000 stores. Additionally, the new linear fluorescent fixtures from GE Lighting are expected to increase energy efficiency by 9% and extend re-lamp cycles by 10%.

BATTLE CREEK, Mich. — Kellogg Company has once again been named one of the "40 Best Companies for Diversity" in 2012 by Black Enterprise magazine. The recognition reflects the company's ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion and marks the sixth time Kellogg has been named to the list.

Woodbridge, Va. -- Ikea officially plugged-in the solar energy system installed atop its store in Woodbridge, Va. The state’s largest such photovoltaic array, the 63,000-sq.-ft. PV installation consists of a 504-kW system, built with 2,100 panels.

The system will produce approximately 636,199 kWh of clean electricity annually, the equivalent of reducing 439 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), eliminating the emissions of 86 cars or powering 55 homes yearly.

By Dan Olson, [email protected]

Boca Raton, Fla. -- Office Depot announced that it has been named to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) list of 2012 Energy Star Leaders for Leadership in Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions. Office Depot’s significant energy reduction makes the retailer the first ever retailer in the United States to be recognized for a 30% or greater improvement.