JCPenney home office earns LEED award

PLANO, Texas JCPenney announced that it has been awarded a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) for Existing Buildings Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for its home office campus located in Plano, Texas. The 1.9 million square-foot building serves as a workplace for more than 5,500 associates and is the third largest campus facility in the nation to receive this designation, the company reported.

Over the last five years, JCPenney said it has addressed areas related to energy and water savings, indoor environmental quality and recycling waste by implementing nearly 40 sustainable improvements at its home office.

"As an environmentally-conscious retailer, JCPenney made a concerted effort to take a hands-on approach to making the improvements needed to achieve these LEED certifications," said Mike Theilmann, chief human resources and administration officer for JCPenney. "While purchasing renewable energy credits is an easier way to go 'green,' we chose to examine our operations and institute meaningful changes that will advance the Company's goal to reduce energy usage 20% by 2015."