PLANO, United States — JCPenney will open a new location next week in what could be a pattern of incorporating green building principles into the retailer's new stores.

The announcement is part of a larger environmental push toward sustainability and energy efficiencies. Its energy management program will spread to new and existing locations while the company experiments with recyclables, such as cardboard, plastic hangers and reusable shopping bags.

The latest JCPenney store in Denver is located in a new LEED-certified shopping center development. The company will seek LEED-certification for two new stores opening in the next two years.

"We conducted a top-to-bottom review of our store construction process and equipment to determine where we could operate more efficiently without diminishing the comfort and convenience of customers and Associates while maintaining reasonable costs," Michael Dastugue, JCPenney senior vice president and director of property development, said in a statement. "Our new Denver store is the product of those findings. We will closely review the performance of our new sustainable building features in that location as we look to incorporate them into new stores and store renovation plans in the future."

Green features include carpet made entirely from recycled material, locally sourced exterior construction and landscaping materials, LED exterior lights, low VOC paints, adhesives and sealants, and on-demand water heaters, among others.

New stores get high-efficiency HVAC and lighting, as well as Energy Management Systems that control lighting, and electrical and mechanical systems. The company has spent more than $75 million during the last five years on the management systems, HVACs and lighting retrofits.

Other actions include appointing an "Energy Captain," or associate at each store charged with monitoring energy usage, and testing reusable shopping bags.