EPA Names Sears Holdings 2011 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year in Product Retailer Category

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill., Mar. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing its journey as a responsible and sustainable retailer, Sears Holdings (Nasdaq: SHLD) has been named the 2011 ENERGY STAR® Partner of the Year (Product Retailer Category) by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This is the second year running that Sears Holdings has been awarded this honor for empowering its customers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and through its numerous initiatives focusing on educating customers about energy-efficient products. In honor of the national recognition and to show appreciation for customers' ongoing support, Sears stores nationwide and online at Sears.com will offer an extra five percent off all ENERGY STAR qualified appliances purchased with a Sears card starting April 15 through April 23.

"We're honored to be recognized by the EPA for our work to help customers better understand and access energy-saving, ENERGY STAR qualified products," said Lou D'Ambrosio, chief executive officer and president of Sears Holdings. "This award is a reflection of the significant commitment our entire organization has made to promote energy efficiency and help our customers make changes that allow them to save money."

Sears Holdings and its subsidiaries, which have partnered with ENERGY STAR for more than 12 years, has been recognized for its continued commitment to educating customers about the importance of energy efficiency and products that earn the ENERGY STAR, the government-backed symbol of energy efficiency. One key effort that distinguished Sears Holdings in 2010 was its leadership in helping customers access rebates offered through the government-funded "Cash for Appliances" program. Presented with this unique opportunity to help more Americans obtain ENERGY STAR qualified products, Sears developed exclusive website resources to educate customers, extended store hours and provided additional offerings to ensure utmost availability.

"EPA is recognizing Sears Holdings for their leadership in raising ENERGY STAR's profile in the American marketplace," said Elizabeth Craig, acting director of EPA's Office of Atmospheric Programs. "By making a broad range of ENERGY STAR products available now and in the future, Sears Holdings is helping customers increase their energy efficiency and save money while reducing our nation's greenhouse gas emissions."

Among the initiatives that contributed to Sears Holdings being designated the 2011 ENERGY STAR Retail Partner of the Year are the following:

• Partnership: In support of the ENERGY STAR brand, Sears collaborated with the EPA to create a national campaign called "The Big Switch" in 2010, which empowered customers to make the switch to ENERGY STAR qualified products. This initiative drove two million visitors to EPA's ENERGY STAR website, acting as one of the largest online drivers to the website. In addition, the company collaborated with utility companies such as Southern California Edison on promotional events. And it partnered with Rebuilding Together, which built 50 energy-efficient homes in New Orleans to recognize the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina. Sears donated 100 ENERGY STAR qualified appliances to the effort. Sears also conducted events at Boys and Girls Clubs to teach children about ENERGY STAR, and donated appliances to the Food Bank in Compton, Calif.
• Product Selection: This year, Sears worked closely with its vendors to collaborate and offer customers an even larger variety of ENERGY STAR qualified products, specifically several exclusive product lines including Kenmore®, Craftsman® C3 and Trim a Home®  seasonal light strings. Additionally, Sears continually works to broaden its selection of ENERGY STAR qualified products within the Home Appliances and Consumer Electronics categories.
• Training: Sears prides itself on offering its associates a best-in-class ENERGY STAR training program. This year, Sears expanded its program by partnering with the EPA to create an ENERGY STAR overview training program, which was distributed to more than 100,000 associates.  Furthermore, the retailer developed a green consultation program to provide more "green associates" within its Home Appliance Showrooms.
• Marketing: During the past year, Sears increased its ENERGY STAR messaging and promotions, and redesigned the sears.com/energystar website, making it a one-stop resource for state and utility rebates. Through a television commercial "Totally RAD," the company promoted both ENERGY STAR qualified products and Sears role as the first retail member of the EPA's Responsible Appliance Disposal program. In addition, Sears conducted national "trade-in to trade-up to ENERGY STAR" events for seasonal light strings, increased social media presence and media relations outreach. The company also worked to have ENERGY STAR qualified appliances featured on "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition."

The 2011 Retail Partner of the Year Award is given to manufacturers and retailers that successfully promote and deliver ENERGY STAR qualified products, saving consumers money and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Sears Holdings' accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C., on April 12, 2011.

For more information on Sears ENERGY STAR efforts, visit www.sears.com/energystar, and for details on Sears Environmental Sustainability Initiatives, visit www.sears.com/green or follow @EnviroSears on Twitter.

About Sears Holdings Corporation

Sears Holdings Corporation is the nation's fourth largest broadline retailer with over 4,000 full-line and specialty retail stores in the United States and Canada.  Sears Holdings is the leading home appliance retailer as well as a leader in tools, lawn and garden, consumer electronics and automotive repair and maintenance.  Sears Holdings is the 2011 ENERGY STAR® Retail Partner of the Year.  Key proprietary brands include Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard, and a broad apparel offering, including such well-known labels as Lands' End, Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer, as well as the Apostrophe and Covington brands.  It also has the Country Living collection, which is offered by Sears and Kmart.  We are the nation's largest provider of home services, with more than 11 million service calls made annually.  Sears Holdings Corporation operates through its subsidiaries, including Sears, Roebuck and Co. and Kmart Corporation.  For more information, visit Sears Holdings' website at www.searsholdings.com.

About ENERGY STAR

ENERGY STAR was introduced by EPA in 1992 as a voluntary, market-based partnership to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants associated with energy use. Today, the ENERGY STAR label can be found on more than 60 kinds of products as well as new homes and buildings. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved $18 billion on their utility bills and prevented greenhouse gas equivalent to those of 34 million cars. Products, homes and buildings that have earned the ENERGY STAR prevent emissions by meeting strict energy-efficiency specifications set by the EPA.  For more information, go to energystar.gov.

SOURCE Sears Holdings