Retailers Make Good Neighbors

On March 15, 2005 the EPA and DOE recognize Sears with Excellence in Appliance Retailing 2005 Award.


The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Department of Energy (DOE) have recognized Sears, Roebuck and Co. (NYSE: S) with the Excellence in Appliance Retailing 2005 award for its outstanding contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions through leadership in energy-efficient appliance retailing. Sears' accomplishments will be recognized at an awards ceremony in Washington, D.C. on March 15, 2005.

A partner in the program for more than five years, Sears will be honored for its leadership in promoting appliances that earn the ENERGY STAR, the government-backed symbol for energy efficiency. Sears sold more than 3.7 million ENERGY STAR qualified appliance products in 2004, a 35 percent increase over 2003. Examples of how Sears achieved these results:

* Sears introduced ENERGY STAR rated appliances at more affordable price points. All Kenmore dishwashers sold at Sears full-line stores are ENERGY STAR qualified and start at prices as low as $198.99. In the laundry category,
* ENERGY STAR rated Kenmore washers are available starting at $569.99 (regular price) for a top-loading washer and at $599.99 (regular price) for a high-efficiency front-load washer.
* Sears featured the ENERGY STAR logo in print ads which totaled 35 billion exposures
* Sears introduced innovative ENERGY STAR qualified products, including the Kenmore Elite HE4t washer; the Kenmore Elite TurboZone dishwasher and the Kenmore Elite Trio refrigerator with PUR(R) Ultimate water filtration.

"Sears not only sustained its commitment to energy-efficiency in 2004, but raised the standard, as well," said Tina Settecase, vice president and general manager of Home Appliances for Sears, Roebuck and Co. "We worked hard on multiple fronts to bring ENERGY STAR qualified appliances to a broader cross-section of Americans and we're very proud of the fact that no other retailer sells more ENERGY STAR rated appliances than Sears. It's so gratifying to know our efforts have made it easier for consumers to choose more efficient appliances for their homes. These products have the added benefit of helping to save money while protecting the environment -- which is what ENERGY STAR is all about."

The Excellence in Appliance Retailing award is a distinctive honor held only by Sears in 2005. Sears was selected from among thousands of organizations that participate in the ENERGY STAR program. "ENERGY STAR depends upon partners like Sears to offer products that help consumers make the connection between energy efficiency and environmental protection in their own homes," said Kathleen Hogan, director of EPA's Climate Protection Partnerships Division. "This award is our chance to recognize partners like Sears for their exceptional efforts in helping Americans benefit from the purchase of over one billion ENERGY STAR qualified products to date."

By choosing ENERGY STAR qualified products, the typical household can save up to 30 percent on their energy bills, or about $400 a year. Last year alone, Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy to power 20 million homes and reduce air pollution equivalent to that of 18 million cars -- all while saving $8 billion.

Sears, Roebuck and Co. is a leading broadline retailer providing merchandise and related services. With revenues in 2004 of $36.1 billion, the company offers its wide range of home merchandise, apparel and automotive products and services through more than 2,300 Sears-branded and affiliated stores in the U.S. and Canada, which includes approximately 870 full-line and 1,100 specialty stores in the U.S. Sears also offers a variety of merchandise and services through sears.com, landsend.com and specialty catalogs. Sears is he only retailer where consumers can find each of the Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard and Lands' End brands together -- among the most trusted and preferred brands in the U.S. The company is the largest provider of product repair services with more than 14 million service calls made annually.

ENERGY STAR was introduced by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 1992 as a voluntary market-based partnership to reduce air pollution through increased energy efficiency. Today, with assistance from the Department Energy, the ENERGY STAR program offers businesses and consumers energy-efficient solutions to save energy, money and help protect the environment for future generations. More than 7,000 organizations have become ENERGY STAR partners and are committed to improving the energy efficiency of products, homes and businesses. For more information about ENERGY STAR, visit http://www.energystar.gov or call toll-free 1-888-STAR-YES (1-888-782-7937).