Kroger Honored By EPA As A 2015 ENERGY STAR® Partner Of The Year

Cincinnati, OH /PRNewswire/ - The Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) today announced that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has recognized the company with a 2015 ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year – Energy Management Award for its outstanding efforts and actions to improve the energy efficiency of its buildings and facilities. Kroger's accomplishments will be recognized in Washington, D.C. on April 20, 2015.

Kroger, an ENERGY STAR partner since 2010, is being honored for its work to integrate and promote ENERGY STAR tools and resources within its energy management program to help lower energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.

"Our energy management practices, coupled with our ENERGY STAR participation, have produced very positive results, both for the environment and our business," said Keith Oliver, Kroger's vice president of engineering. "Kroger is honored to win this award and continues to implement measures that reduce our energy use."

Key accomplishments of Kroger's award-winning energy management program include the extensive use of LED lighting in refrigerated cases, implementation of best practices for refrigeration, lighting and HVAC, and enhanced associate and customer awareness. Through the ENERGY STAR certification process Kroger certified 166 stores in 2014 alone, earning "Elite" status as part of ENERGY STAR's 2014 "Certification Nation" competition. Since 2000, Kroger has reduced its average grocery store electricity usage by 35%. To learn more about Kroger's efforts, visit http://sustainability.kroger.com/.

"Kroger is a leading example of how businesses and organizations are incorporating ENERGY STAR into their sustainability programs," said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. "Kroger's role in energy management is helping reduce our nation's greenhouse gas emissions that fuel climate change and preserve a healthy planet for future generations."

Since its inception in 1992, ENERGY STAR and its partners have helped prevent a total of more than two billion metric tons of greenhouse gas emissions. In 2013 alone, ENERGY STAR and its partners provided more than $11 billion in societal benefits due to reducing damages from climate change.

ENERGY STAR has 16,000 partners working to protect the environment through greater energy efficiency, including manufacturers, retailers, public schools, hospitals, real estate companies, and home builders.

For a complete list of 2015 winners and information, and more information about ENERGY STAR's awards program, visit www.energystar.gov/awardwinners.

About Kroger
Kroger, one of the world's largest retailers, employs nearly 400,000 associates who serve customers in 2,625 supermarkets and multi-department stores in 34 states and the District of Columbia under two dozen local banner names including Kroger, City Market, Dillons, Food 4 Less, Fred Meyer, Fry's, Harris Teeter, Jay C, King Soopers, QFC, Ralphs and Smith's. The company also operates 782 convenience stores, 326 fine jewelry stores, 1,330 supermarket fuel centers and 37 food processing plants in the U.S. Recognized by Forbes as the most generous company in America, Kroger supports hunger relief, breast cancer awareness, the military and their families, and more than 30,000 schools and community organizations. Kroger contributes food and funds equal to 200 million meals a year through more than 80 Feeding America food bank partners. A leader in supplier diversity, Kroger is a proud member of the Billion Dollar Roundtable and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber's Million Dollar Club.

About ENERGY STAR
ENERGY STAR® is the simple choice for energy efficiency achievements. For more than 20 years, people across America have looked to EPA's ENERGY STAR program for guidance on how to save energy, save money, and protect the environment. Behind each blue label is a product, building, or home that is independently certified to use less energy and cause fewer of the emissions that contribute to climate change. Today, ENERGY STAR is the most widely recognized symbol for energy efficiency in the world, helping families and businesses save $300 billion on utility bills, while reducing greenhouse gas emissions by two billion metric tons since 1992. Join the millions who are already making a difference at www.energystar.gov.