Ikea Grows U.S. Solar Program

December 5, 2011  by in UnCategorized   

By Home Furnishings Business in Green on December 6, 2011

Home furnishings retail giant Ikea will install solar panels on 10 additional U.S. locations, its entire presence in the Southern United States.

Pending governmental permits, installation can begin this winter, with completion expected in Summer 2012. Collectively, the nine stores and one distribution center will total 10.7 megawatts of solar generating capacity, nearly 45,360 panels, and a projected annual electricity output of 15,248,334 kilowatt hours.

This investment by Ikea reflects the company's long-term commitment to sustainability and confidence in photovoltaic technology. Ikea will own and operate each of its solar PV energy systems atop its buildings--as opposed to a solar lease or power purchase agreement--now including its three Texas stores (Frisco, Houston and Round Rock), three Florida stores (Orlando, Sunrise and Tampa), three other stores (Atlanta and Charlotte, and in Woodbridge, Va.), and the Ikea Distribution Center in Savannah, Ga.

Ikea already has 12 U.S. solar energy systems operational with 11 more underway. Adding solar to 10 more locations increases the company's solar presence to 75 percent of its U.S. locations and a total solar generating capacity of approximately 26.8 megawatts.

"Ikea believes we can be a good business while doing good business," said Mike Ward, IKEA U.S. president. "This investment extends our solar presence to the Southern U.S., further reducing our carbon footprint and the intensity of the electrical grid."

Globally, Ikea evaluates locations for energy conservation opportunities, integrates innovative materials into product design, works with Global Forest Watch to maintain sustainable resources, and flat-packs goods for efficient distribution. Specific U.S. sustainable efforts include: recycling waste material (paper, wood, plastic, etc.); incorporating environmental measures into the construction of buildings, such as energy-efficient HVAC and lighting systems, recycled construction materials, skylights in warehouse areas, and water conserving restrooms; and operationally, eliminating plastic bags from the check-out process, phasing out the sale of incandescent light bulbs and facilitating recycling of customers' compact fluorescent bulbs. Also, IKEA is installing electric vehicle charging stations at nine stores in the Western United States.