Sears - 1822 Cape Girardeau - Cape Girardeau, MO

Briefly describe 3 projects your organization has undertaken during the 2011 ENERGY STAR National Building Competition to improve your building’s energy efficiency.

In an effort to improve efficiency, the Energy Team at Sears Holdings Corporation (SHC) retrofitted the Sears Cape Girardeau, MO store, replacing 400 high intensity discharge (HID) lamps with energy efficient T8 fluorescent lamps. Additionally, all exterior building security lighting was converted to LED.

As a National Building Competition participant, Sears was excited to explore new energy saving strategies at the Cape Girardeau store. The LED initiative began as a trial where one inefficient HID lamp was replaced with a LED fixture. After evaluating the test fixture and determining that it would properly illuminate the area, the Energy Team decided to replace all security lighting with LEDs, as they can provide significant savings.

Sears’ maintenance technicians installed weather stripping and door stops on all store entrance/exit doors to keep out drafts.

How has the 2011 ENERGY STAR National Building Competition made a difference in your organization’s efforts to save energy?

The competitive spirit of EPA's National Building Competition: Battle of the Buildings invigorated employees with a dedication to energy reduction. Whether it was turning all unnecessary lighting off, keeping doors closed, or turning monitors off at night, all Sears store employees contributed to energy savings. Store management rallied employees behind the effort by highlighting the importance of energy conservation in numerous meetings. The management team even launched a mini internal competition among store employees to encourage keeping the entrance/exit doors closed. Before the door stops were installed, winds would often keep the doors open, sometimes for hours at a time. Sears' store manager developed a simple but creative contest to minimize heating/cooling loss from open doors: the associate that closes the doors most each week will win a free pizza. Additionally, all employees' energy savings ideas were encouraged through a suggestions box in the break room.

Briefly describe ways you have engaged your community in your efforts during the 2011 ENERGY STAR National Building Competition (e.g. events, posters, signs, contests, open houses, web forums, etc).

As a proud competitor in the Battle of the Buildings, Sears communicates its participation through a variety of channels. The 2011 National Building Competition poster hangs prominently at the center of the store. Since so many customers were inquiring about the competition, Sears' store manager, a true champion of the competition, created fliers to pass out to interested customers. The fliers outlined details from the Battle of the Buildings Web page, including home energy tips, and directed customers to the store's Twitter handle. To reach the broader community of energy enthusiasts, Sears tweeted from both @SearsGrandCape and their corporate sustainability handle, @EnviroSears. Sears also incorporated the National Building Competition in their weekly Twitter parties (#EcoChat). Moreover, the competition was publicized throughout SHC internal channels. For instance, the Energy Team dedicated a page on the company's intranet site to the National Building Competition.

If your efforts have been covered by online news outlets, please provide the Web link(s) here:

http://www.emoneydaily.com/?s=sears+holdings+national+building+competition

http://www.proudgreenhome.com/article/181127/Sears-competing-for-2011-Energy-Star-award

http://www.thestreet.com/story/11108083/1/sears-holdings-corporation-to-compete-in-the-2011-energy-star-national-building-competition.html

http://www.chainstoreage.com/article/sears-compete-national-energy-star-competition

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sears-holdings-corporation-to-compete-in-the-2011-energy-star-national-building-competition-121325204.html

 

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