Ikea Expands Solar Energy Program

December 15, 2010  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Furniture Retailing on December 16, 2010

Home furnishings retail giant Ikea will install solar energy panels on furniture stores in Paramus, N.J., and Stoughton, Mass.

Pending government permits, rooftop installation will begin in the new year, with completion expected in Spring 2011. The plans bring the number of U.S. Ikea locations that will have a solar energy system to a total of 13. These two systems will represent the largest store-top solar installations for Ikea in the United States.

The Paramus, NJ and Stoughton, MA stores will be outfitted with solar energy systems, and with corresponding clean energy equivalents based on calculations from the Environmental Protection Agency.

For the Paramus and Stoughton projects, Ikea contracted with REC Solar, one of the largest U.S. solar electric installers with more then 5,000 systems built nationwide in the retail sector in the past two years.

"We are excited about this investment by Ikea in using renewable energy on the East Coast to complement our recently announced plans in California," said Mike Ward, Ikea U.S. president. "This approach is consistent with our commitment to sustainable building practices and reducing our carbon footprint. We always are open to environmental technologies and are thrilled our evaluation deemed these projects feasible for Ikea."

In terms of U.S. sustainable building practices, Ikea already has solar energy systems operational in Brooklyn, N.Y., Pittsburgh, Pa., and Tempe, Ariz.; and installation is underway at eight locations in California. Additionally, solar water heating systems exist in Charlotte, N.C., Draper, Utah, and Orlando and Tampa, Fla. A geothermal system is incorporated into the store being built and opening Fall 2011 in Centennial, Col.

Other sustainable efforts include: integrating innovative materials into the production process; working with Global Forest Watch to maintain sustainable resources; flat-packing our goods for an efficient distribution system; recycling approximately 75 percent of waste (paper, wood, plastic, etc.); and incorporating environmental measures into the construction of our buildings in terms of energy-efficient HVAC and lighting systems, recycled construction materials, low volatile organic compound emitting paint, skylights in the warehouse and water-conserving restrooms.