Retailers team with Dept. of Energy to get more efficient

WASHINGTON The U.S. Department of Energy has awarded 21 companies, including retailers like JCPenney, Best Buy, Macy's and Whole Foods, a total of $15 million as part of its "Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative."

The winning companies will partner with two Energy Department national laboratories to help them incorporate energy savings technologies into their commercial buildings.

The goal of the program is for the companies to achieve cost-effective savings of 50% above the standard set by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers for new commercial building designs, and a savings of 30% for retrofits to existing buildings.