JCPenney has been a member of the US Environmental Protection Agency’s ENERGY STAR program since 1999, using the data and tools available through this program to improve energy efficiency throughout our operations. Commercial buildings earning the ENERGY STAR, on average, use 35 percent less energy than similar buildings and generate one-third fewer CO2 emissions from energy production.
When the ENERGY STAR efficiency benchmark for large retail stores was introduced in October 2007, four JCPenney stores in Washington state became the first in the nation to qualify under the new standard. As of May 2010, over 100 existing JCPenney stores have earned an ENERGY STAR certification, while 10 new stores have achieved the "Designed to Earn the ENERGY STAR" status.