Appliances

TOWSON, Md. —  Black & Decker has introduced its new Steam-Mop featuring trademarked SmartSelect technology that enables users to use the mop on a variety of floor types. When the right setting is chosen the mop will release the required amount of steam needed to clean the floor.

The mop works with regular tap water, thus eliminating the need for harsh chemicals, the company reported. According to Black & Decker, this mop can kill  99.9 percent of germs to achieve a clean home the all-natural way. 

New York City -- Safeway’s store in the Georgetown section of Washington, D.C, has earned LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. The 71,067-sq.ft. store is the grocer’s second LEED-certified store, and the first LEED certified store in DC.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. -- Sears Holdings will host its annual meeting on May 4, and attendees present will likely want to know how the company plans to improve sales and return to profitability under the leadership of its new CEO, Lou D’Ambrosio.  

Indianapolis -- Hhgregg announced that it will open a 31,000-sq.-ft. store in Myrtle Beach, S.C., on May 5.

Like all Hhgregg locations, the new Myrtle Beach store will showcase over 100 digital TVs and has more than 500 major appliances in stock every day.

Hoffman Estates, Ill. -- Sears Holdings on Tuesday announced that its same-store sales for the first quarter fell 3.6%. The retailer forecast a loss for the quarter ended April 30 of $145 million.

Same-store sales decreased 1.6% at Kmart, and 5.2% at Sears in the quarter. Sears Canada projects same-store sales will be down 9.2%.

Brooklyn, N.Y. -- One of the largest commercial solar rooftop installations in the five boroughs has gone live. Ikea announced that the solar energy system on its store in Brooklyn, N.Y., now is commissioned, operational and certified by Con Edison and New York City. The 200 kW array occupies 19,000 sq. ft., with four different module types totaling 1,104 panels.

Bentonville, Ark. -- Wal-Mart Stores on Monday released its "2011 Global Responsibility Report." According to the report, the chain has made steady year-to-year improvement towards its goals of creating zero waste, using 100% renewable energy and selling products that sustain people and the environment.

Burbank, Calif. -- Ikea on Wednesday went live with the solar energy system installed at its store in Burbank, Calif. The 35,000-sq.-ft. array consists of a 290-kW system, built with approximately 1,260 panels. 

The installation will produce approximately 421,300 kWh of electricity annually, the equivalent of reducing at least 334 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2). The initiative will contribute to the local utility’s renewable portfolio goals and will lower the carbon intensity of the electrical grid.

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J. -- LG Electronics has announced the introduction of its first canister vacuums for the U.S. market.

BENTON HARBOR, Mich.  -- Whirlpool announced that its EVP global product organization, David Szczupak, will be speaking at the fourth Energy Efficiency Global Forum (EE Global) in Brussels, Belgium on Tuesday, April 12, 2011 at 4:00 p.m. CEST. His presentation will be a part of the opening plenary session and is titled, "Appliances...the Friendly Face of the Smart Grid."