March 10, 2010

Sears and Kmart Join NYSERDA’s Partnership Program to Increase Sales of Energy-Efficient Appliances

Albany, NY -- Sears and Kmart have joined  with the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to help promote the sale of energy-efficient products that will help consumers reduce their energy use and save money on energy costs.

The two national retailers joined NYSERDA’s New York Energy Smart^SM Products Program, which offers retailers of all sizes training from NYSERDA on sales and promotion of energy-efficient ENERGY STAR^®-qualified products. The program also offers retailers co-operative advertising incentives and free point-of-purchase (POP) informational materials. Using ENERGY STAR-qualified products, which represent the top 25 percent of the most efficient models in a product category and can save consumers hundreds of dollars a year in energy costs.

 “I’m pleased that Sears and Kmart are joining the NYSERDA team to help consumers buy world-class, energy-efficient appliances that will save New Yorkers money on energy costs while helping the environment,” said Francis J. Murray, Jr., President and CEO of NYSERDA. “With our partners across the state, we are working to decrease New York’s energy usage to help build a cleaner, safer environment in the future.”

“This program fits well with our goal of making it easier and more affordable for Americans to swap out their old, inefficient appliances for new ENERGY STAR-qualified models,” said Doug Moore, senior vice president and president of home appliances for Sears Holdings, the nation’s leading retailer of ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances.

NYSERDA’s New York Energy Smart Products Program has increased its partnerships by 305 percent over the past four years.  In addition to Sears and Kmart, NYSERDA partners with other retailers such as independent appliance stores, lighting showrooms, grocery stores, convenient stores, and hardware stores.  These partners combined to increase the sales of ENERGY STAR-qualified products by 35 percent over the past years.

Click here for a list of NYSERDA retail partners Upstate.
Click here for a list of NYSERDA retail partners in New York City.

About Sears Holdings Corporation

Sears Holdings Corporation is the nation's fourth largest broadline retailer with approximately 3,900 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, home electronics and automotive repair and maintenance.  Sears Holdings is the 2010 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 12 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.

Contact:
Colleen Ryan, NYSERDA Press Office
518-862-1090, ext 3359
cqr@nyserda.ny.gov

Larry Costello, Sears Holdings PR
847-286-9036
larry.costello@searshc.com