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on December 13th, 2011% ![]()
Tennessee’s solar and related industries provide more than 6,400 jobs in a growing green economic sector, but the state needs to stay aggressive in supporting and pursuing the ventures, a report released Thursday shows. The report released by the Tennessee Solar Institute shows the state has more than 200 organizations involved in solar power, including 174 for-profit entities. The institute is part of a Volunteer State Solar Initiative that focuses on job creation, education, renewable power production and technology commercialization as a partnership that includes the University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The institute said its grant programs have generated more than $40 million in private investments, with a total benefit of about $64 million to the state’s economy. there have been 33 new ventures since 2008 and 15 in 2010 alone, with more than 6,400 jobs in solar and related industries, the report shows. Wampler’s Farm Sausage President and CEO Ted Wampler Jr. told reporters in a telephone news conference on the report that two solar systems installed at his facility in Lenoir City are environmentally friendly and saving him money. Other participants included representatives of Sharp Electronics in Memphis, Shoals Technology Group in Portland and Diversified Power International in Piney Flats. The report also refers to a Middle Tennessee State University study earlier this year that showed six major green businesses and initiatives, such as a the Hemlock Semiconductor plant in Clarksville, will directly or indirectly create more than 16,500 permanent jobs. The new report shows that in 2008, Tennessee had less than 1.3 kW of installed solar power capacity, enough to power 20 percent of one average home. At the end of 2011, solar capacity grew to about 17 MW, enough to power about 1,300 average homes. By the end of 2012, solar power capacity is expected to exceed 23 MW, the report shows. Institute programs director John Sanseverino said the report that includes survey responses from more than 70 Tennessee companies also shows that if Tennessee fails to capitalize on its solar energy efforts there is a risk of losing investment and jobs to North Carolina, Georgia and other states with “aggressively growing solar sectors.” Wampler said his business has “benefitted greatly” from using solar power and has used other Tennessee companies that make and install the equipment. “from a community standpoint, solar panels are the right thing to do,” Wampler said. “from an economic standpoint it is the smart thing.” The report said fully implementing initiatives such as Gov. bill Haslam’s Jobs4TN plan “would further strengthen the solar manufacturing sector.” Sanseverino said Haslam’s Republican administration has been no less aggressive about supporting and pursuing solar energy ventures than his Democratic predecessor, Gov. Phil Bredesen. Bredesen helped recruit two companies that make polysilicon, a material used to make solar cells and semiconductor devices. Hemlock Semiconductor Corp. is building a plant in Clarksville and Wacker Chemie AG is building one near Cleveland. Stephen Smith, executive director of the Southern Alliance for clean Energy, has pushed for more conservation and use of alternative energy. He said in a separate telephone interview that he is not sure about Haslam’s support of pursuing solar power ventures. Smith said Tennessee is a regional leader in solar power and “what is unclear is whether the current administration maintains the same level of commitment to this sector.” Dean Solon, president and CEO of Shoals Technologies Group, said in the institute news conference that the solar industry currently has too many suppliers and “not enough customer base.” He also said the technology is quickly changing and a solar field installed right now is the “equivalent of that first desk top computer you put on your desk.”
on December 12th, 2011% ![]()
The state Department of Environmental Management announced last week that $1.5 million in federal stimulus funds have been earmarked for solar power projects on DEM properties. Installation will begin immediately.
On Prudence, a single, pole-mounted solar panel array will be installed at the Research Reserve, and should generate over 3,700 kWh of electricity each year. It is estimated that the solar system will save the research reserve $500 per year.
Students involved in educational programs at the Prudence Island Research Reserve will learn about sustainable energy created by solar panels and other renewable sources as part of the facility’s teaching curricula.
Solar panels in most of the state installatons will be mounted on existing roofs. Every installation will include new inverters to convert the electricity from direct current produced by the panels to alternating current used by the building. All the installations will be tied to the electric grid and will include meters to count the amount of electricity that is being made, so that the state’s electric bill can be reduced accordingly.
“These solar arrays illustrate how properly-sized renewable energy projects can work at a wide range of publicly-owned sites,” said DEM Director Janet Coit. “The technology is proven and will result in lower electrical bills for the state for many years to come.”
on December 12th, 2011% ![]()
Basically, solar power is energy that is actually harnessed from the sun. although the sun is millions of miles away from earth, if we had the ability to harness all the energy coming from the sun, there is more than enough power there to provide all the energy we need for the entire earth. In fact, there is enough energy to provide plenty of energy for 10,000 earths. While you can use solar power for a variety of appliances and other items, you have to realize that this is different than using this power to produce heat.
There are two different principles that are used with solar power. If you want to produce hot air or hot fluids, then solar thermal principles are used. However, if you want to product electricity, photovoltaic principles are used instead. If you want to produce solar power, there are four components that are needed, including a battery, a charge controller, a solar panel, and an inverter.
It is the solar panels that actually get the radiation from the sun and use it to charge up the battery. then, the charge regulator actually makes sure that the battery charges as it should. of course, probably the most important pieces of equipment are going to be the solar panels and usually they output energy in watts. These panels can be wired in a variety of ways, although usually parallel or series wiring is done to either increase the amperage or the voltage.
So, are there benefits to using solar power? yes! there are a variety of amazing benefits to using solar power. In fact, many people all over the world are already using this type of energy to supply their electricity. some of the benefits are as follows:
- Creation of new hi-tech jobs – Protection of the environment – Solar power is abundant, free and renewable – Fuel supply is diverse – Rapid and cheap deployment
As long as the sun is hanging there in the sky, we will be able to have the energy that solar power produces. In fact, there is so much energy there, more than 10,000 times the amount of energy we need is available. You should learn as much as possible about solar power so that you will know about the great benefits offered and how your life will change for the better if you decide to go with solar power instead of using other energy sources.
Whether you have a business or a home, you’ll find that solar power can offer many advantages for both. Solar power is one of several alternative fuel energy sources that is cheap and renewable. from a business perspective this can add to the bottom line tremendously. from the home perspective using this can cut down on expenses. since solar power is friendly to the environment, you will not have to worry about toxins or pollutants from this type of energy and you won’t have to worry about the issue of global warming either.
Should you crave extra points about astrology there’s plenty of details not detailed in this article, find those details on Author’s web blog to locate more.
on December 11th, 2011% ![]()
HAZLE TOWNSHIP, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Solar Nation has announced the commissioning of a solar-electric system on Romark Logistics’ storage warehouse in Hazle Township, Pennsylvania. The system was commissioned by Romark as part of the company’s overall sustainability initiative.
“Solar Nation is honored to have been selected by Romark and to have had the opportunity to design, engineer, and build their rooftop solar-electric system”
Romark’s Hazle Township solar-electric system was designed, engineered, and built by Solar Nation. The 312,000 square foot rooftop array is comprised of 8,512 SolarWorld® 235 watt polycrystalline solar panels, manufactured in the U.S. in addition to the SolarWorld panels, the system incorporates four SMA America inverters and a Draker Laboratories web-based monitoring system.
The installation of the Hazle Township solar-electric system, financed in part by a grant from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Commonwealth Financing Authority, is another example of Romark Logistics’ ongoing commitment to environmental stewardship. Clean, renewable energy generated by the system will meet 34 percent of Romark Logistics’ electricity needs at the warehouse, providing immediate savings for the company. it is estimated that the solar-electric system will cut greenhouse gas emissions by 1520 metric tons annually—the equivalent CO2 offset of planting approximately 38,981 trees or annual greenhouse gas emissions from 298 passenger vehicles.
“Romark benefits greatly from each solar-electric system we install,” said Ryan Ziegler, Director of Facilities Management at Romark Logistics. “Not only is solar the right thing to do for the environment, it is also a smart financial decision for our business. by offsetting 34 percent of our energy usage, we save money, which can be invested in the company and its facilities. it is a win-win.”
“Solar Nation is honored to have been selected by Romark and to have had the opportunity to design, engineer, and build their rooftop solar-electric system,” said Dan Drummond, Chief Executive Officer of Solar Nation. “We are proud to work with a company that continually finds better ways to serve its customers and its community and who sets the standard for environmental stewardship at locations across the country.”
About Romark Logistics, inc.
Romark Logistics specializes in general warehousing programs for finished product and raw materials for the confectionary, food, commodities, beverage, wine and spirits, pharmaceutical, gourmet and natural organic food industries.
For more information, please visit romarklogistics.com.
About Solar Nation, inc.
Headquartered in Portland, Oregon, Solar Nation, inc. is science and engineering company specializing in the design, engineering, installation, and construction of solar-energy-systems and solutions for business, government, and non-profit organizations. since its founding, Solar Nation has expanded its operations from the Northwestern United States across North America.
For more information, please visit solarnation.com.
on December 10th, 2011% The energy-production revolution has started, but not in the way you might imagine.
 Dan Staudacher | Times PhotoSpeakers from Citizens Exploring clean Energy, the Sierra Club and the Saginaw Chippewa Indian Tribe protest the proposed Consumers plant at an event in 2008.
While environmentalists tout the benefits of wind and solar power, energy producers like Consumers Energy are moving away from coal for a different reason. The price of natural gas has fallen dramatically in the last three years. it has changed the ballgame.
That was a major reason why Jackson-based Consumers on Friday abandoned plans to build a $2 billion coal-fired power plant near Bay City. less noticed, but no less significant, is that the company also plans to put seven more coal-burning plants — its “classics,” including one that is 59 years old — out of business by 2015. (Read the company’s statement here)
That is a profound shift. Environmentally, Consumers expects to reduce emissions from its power plants by 90 percent with these changes. Representatives of groups such as the Sierra Club on Friday were claiming victory with the demise of the new power plant, but they won more than they might realize.
This, too, is a situation in which Consumers and its customers also come out ahead. The company has seen a rebound in sales coming out of the recession, while natural gas customers have been enjoying falling prices. The explosion of interest in hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” has opened up a new supply of natural gas that could keep prices low for years. That, plus the slow growth of wind farms, gives Consumers a varied mix of power sources.
Few might have expected this situation when Consumers announced its plans for the coal-fired plant in 2007. so, this is hardly a defeat for the company. it is, more accurately, a decision to take advantage of better opportunities.
What should be interesting now is whether Consumers, or any utility in Michigan, will look again at building coal-fired power plants. Consumers expects to put $1.6 billion in upgrades into its five remaining coal plants, but that is far different from going through the regulatory and legal challenges for a new plant.
Thanks to cheap natural gas, that battle has been put off indefinitely.
on December 10th, 2011% ![]()
I think that most of the people reading this post, realize that what we are doing to the Earth is slowly damaging it. I also think most people really don’t care if global warming is man-made or just then normal cycles of the planet, but that people want to help make this world a better place. I do know that the amount of CO2 we put into the atmosphere is not helping the environment. We need to become less dependent on fossil fuels, and more dependent on renewable resources like solar and wind.
I began thinking of what I can do individually. one idea I have researched and become particularly fond of is solar panels. the concept is actually very simple, the panels seem to be durable and long lasting, and the energy that is gained is free the only problem I found, was that most of companies sold their panels for $3000 – $5000.I don’t know about you, but that was a little (when I say a little I mean a lot) out of my budget.
After looking long and hard for affordable solar panels, with no luck I started to wonder if I could figure out how I could build my own homemade solar panels for (at least) half the cost. to my own surprise I found a couple of DIY sites for solar panels or other renewable energy solutions, but none that I thought I could build or trusted. until, I found Earth 4 Energy it is everything I have been looking for. Energy 4 Earth promises to teach you everything you need to know about producing your own electricity using solar and wind power the resources are easy to follow, a step-by-step illustrated manual as well as video instructions are provided upon purchase. all of the material can be found at your local hardware store
Here is what you can expect from Earth 4 Energy.You will learn how exactly wind and solar power works. You will learn how to build your own solar power generators as well as build your own solar panels to save thousands of dollars You will also learn how to build your own wind power generator for under $200 A free bonus chapter on how to reduce your Personal oil dependency. there are many different topics covered in the easy to follow manual
on December 10th, 2011% ![]()
A University of Tennessee-led partnership that includes TVA, KUB and the city of Knoxville is one of 22 teams nationwide awarded Rooftop Solar Challenge Grants by the U.S. Department of Energy and will receive $622,960.
DOE last week announced the winners of the competitive grants designed to promote solar power by simplifying zoning, permitting and other processes involved in solar installations.
The group will use the money to work with local officials in streamlining the permitting, planning, zoning and connection processes for solar installations across Tennessee.
The group also plans to develop a smartphone application that will simplify the application process for residents and companies interested in installing solar technology.
In addition to TVA, the city of Knoxville and KUB, the UT-led group includes Nashville, Franklin and Memphis as well as the Nashville Electric Service, Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Co-op and Memphis Light, Gas and Water. the UT initiative is one of three organizations in the Southeast to receive the awards.
“We’re very pleased that DOE chose to fund our proposal and we look forward to working with our partners in this effort to reduce the barriers to developing solar energy in Knoxville and across the state of Tennessee,” Susanna Sutherland, the city of Knoxville’s sustainability program manager, said in a statement.
Knoxville previously was selected as a DOE Solar America City and used those funds to develop measurable growth in solar technology in the Knoxville-area.
The Solar Challenge Grants are part of DOE’s SunShot Initiative, “a collaborative national effort to make solar cost-competitive with other forms of energy by the end of the decade,” according to a DOE grant.
More information about the DOE Rooftop Solar Challenge Projects, including a full list of award winners and their projects, is available at the DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, eere.energy.gov.
on December 9th, 2011% ![]()
The leader of Reading Borough Council has written to Prime Minister David Cameron to tell him the Government’s proposed scaling back of incentives to install solar panels has “undermined” the council, will put jobs at risk and will impact on householders, schools and businesses in Reading.
The coalition Government has proposed a 50 per cent cut in payments to organisations and individuals who install solar panels, known as ‘feed-in tariffs’.
The move could affect up to 40 schools in Reading, 20 community buildings and anyone who wanted to install a solar panel on their home.
A drop in feed-in tariffs was expected in April next year but the Government plans to introduce the cut as early as Monday, December 12.
When the Government announced the plans at the end of October, Reading Borough Council feared it would price it out of carrying out many of its 60 planned schemes and now, after council officers carried out detailed research, it has confirmed this is the case. Officers will now look to see exactly how many – if any – of its planned schemes will be able to go ahead.
Councillor Jo Lovelock has written to the Prime Minister to ask him to extend the period when people would be eligible for feed-in tariffs until April.
She has also asked that when the Government does cut the tariff it does so by an amount comparable to the cost of installing solar panels and that there is a higher tariff available to the greenest schemes.
In her letter Cllr Lovelock says: “Reading Borough Council has developed a scheme to put solar panels on to the roofs of school, corporate and community buildings in the borough.
“Some 40 schools, 20 community buildings and additional council buildings would have benefitted.
“The council has committed over £5m to support the scheme and committed substantial sums in project and procurement costs.
“The council is now having to reconsider its scheme and, although it may proceed with marginal projects, the risks and project costs may now lead to a significant cost impact on the council.
“Our intention to lead by example has been undermined.
“The council’s concerns relate to our community – particularly those in or at risk of fuel poverty, local jobs in jeopardy, the council’s ability to provide low carbon energy and making a step change in renewable energy across the borough.”
Cllr Lovelock also said the move would affect solar energy companies in the area and could cause job losses or even the collapse of small companies.
The plans could also impact on Reading’s involvement in 10:10 – an international carbon reduction programme which launched a project in Reading to help schools raise funds to buy their own solar panels in September.
Speaking to getreading at a briefing on last Monday, Cllr Lovelock said: “The previous deadline was tight enough but this has pulled the rug out from everyone’s feet.
“It makes me so angry that this Government claimed to be the greenest in history but in doing this they’ve fallen at the first hurdle.”
on December 9th, 2011% ![]()
COLUMBIA, MO. > One finalist remains for UM president — Theyearlong search for a new University of Missouri president is downto a single, unnamed finalist.
Flanked by campus police to ensure the confidential process, 13members of a 20-person advisory panel met in private for more thanfive hours and interviewed its sole candidate Tuesday in a guardedconference room inside Mizzou Arena. The group of professors,students, campus workers and alumni will make a recommendation tothe university’s Board of Curators, which has final approval of thehiring. Curators are scheduled meet Thursday in St. Louis but don’texpect to announce a decision.
“We interviewed one candidate,” said Hal Williamson, vicechancellor for the University of Missouri Health System andchairman of the advisory group. “It’s up to the Board of Curatorsfrom here.”
The curators are seeking a replacement for Gary Forsee, whostepped down as president in January to care for his wife as shebattles cancer. Interim president Steve Owens has said he is not acandidate for the permanent job and expects to resume his duties asgeneral counsel.
CLARKSON VALLEY > decision on solar panels is delayed — Avote on a new ordinance regulating the use and placement of solarpanels was put on hold because the Board of Aldermen did not have aquorum at its Tuesday night meeting.
Officials still heard from supporters of Frances and Jim Babb,residents whose inquiry about placing solar panels on their homeprompted the city’s proposed ordinance. Among other things, theordinance would ban homeowners from placing the panels on the frontof their homes.
Dave Glueck, president of the Missouri Solar Industries EnergyAssociation, said Clarkson Valley officials should loosen some ofthe restrictions in the proposal, instead looking at visibilityfrom the road and neighborhood approval.
Jim Babb argued that because his and his wife’s request promptedthe discussion, their request should be taken into considerationand approved. (Marlon A. Walker)
CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO. > Army Corps halts levee rebuilding —U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is shutting down its work rebuilding aMississippi River levee that was damaged during heavy floodingalong the river in southeastern Missouri earlier this year.
In may, the corps blew three holes in the Birds Point levee torelieve pressure at the height of the Mississippi River floodingthat was threatening nearby Cairo, Ill. About 130,000 acres offarmland were damaged, along with dozens of homes.
The corps said Tuesday that it will begin closing down itsrepair work on the Birds Point project area because forecasts callfor sustained high river levels and more rain.
The corps says that before shutting down the repair work, crewswill bring the levee system up to 55 feet using temporary repairtools, such as sandbags. (AP)
BRENTWOOD > City to add finance director — In the wake ofrevelations about embezzlement by a former city administrator andunearned overtime pay for firefighters, the Brentwood Board ofAldermen approved Monday the hiring of the city’s first financedirector.
City Administrator Bola Akande said the outlay for the positionwould be between $75,000 and $90,000. The funding is included inthe city’s next budget of about $15.7 million. Akande said thesearch for a director began in August and she expects to have aperson in position when the new budget kicks in Jan. 1.
Akande said the city previously has had a finance officer butnever a director. The position would provide a check over the cityadministrator’s position, previously held by Chris Seemayer.
Seemayer resigned his position in March. He admitted in June toembezzling nearly $30,000 from the city since Jan. 1, 2010 andgambling it away. Seemayer was sentenced in October in federalcourt to five years’ probation, with six months of it to be spentunder house arrest.
The ensuing investigation of Seemayer uncovered that cityfirefighters had been paid overtime for work they hadn’t done. Thepractice had gone on for more than 24 years and resulted inhundreds of thousands of dollars in unearned pay. (Special to thePost-Dispatch)
O’FALLON, ILL. > City hires law firm to help with suit overtax district — The O’Fallon, Ill., City Council has hired a lawfirm to represent the city in a lawsuit filed by a local schooldistrict.
Central School District 104, which comprises an elementary andmiddle school in O’Fallon, filed the lawsuit Nov. 22, a day afterthe city approved a tax increment financing district built around a106-acre tract north of Interstate 64 near Green Mount Road.
The tract is the location of a proposed $300 million hospitalcomplex backed by Hospital Sisters Health System. Health Systemofficials said they wouldn’t accept the land unless it was packagedinto a TIF district. City officials said funds from the special taxdistrict is supposed to pay off $8 million to $10 million inremediation work on the site because of mine shafts and undergroundcaverns.
The school district’s lawsuit challenges the TIF district’slegality.
City officials said the school district was worried it couldlose potential property taxes.
Belsheim & Bruckert LLC of O’Fallon will represent the cityin the case because of the firm’s expertise in TIF law, and CityAttorney Dale Funk will serve as co-counsel.
Legal costs are not known, but city officials said the amountcan be reimbursed through money raised by the tax district. A courtdate has not been set. (Special to the Post-Dispatch)
GLENDALE > Rates hold steady for trash collection, employeehealth care — Glendale will continue refuse and recycling andemployee health insurance without a cost increase next year.
“We lucked out,” City Administrator Jeremy Hayes said Mondaynight after the Board of Aldermen approved new contracts. “We maybe facing increases a year from now, however.”
Allied Services will continue refuse and recycling for $19.63per household per month. Residents are billed quarterly for theservice by the city. there has not been a cost increase since2004.
Anthem Blue Cross/Blue Shield will continue as the healthinsurer for the city’s 38 full-time employees. The city pays fullemployee costs and 90 percent of family costs. Hayes noted that in2009 the city took on annual deductible payments, which has keptannual premium costs down. In 2012 the city expects to pay $401,000for premiums (the same as this year) and about $47,500 to coverdeductibles, which will total about $44,338 this year. (Special tothe Post-Dispatch)
JEFFERSON CITY > Lawsuit over budget cuts moves on — Alawsuit over the power of Missouri governors to make budget cuts isproceeding. Cole County Circuit Judge Jon Beteem denied a requestby Gov. Jay Nixon to decide the case based on what has already beensubmitted to the court. A hearing is scheduled Dec. 16.
Republican Auditor Tom Schweich challenged budget cuts made byNixon, a Democrat. The cuts amount to about $170 million and affectuniversities, scholarships, the judiciary and early childhoodprograms. Nixon says spending cuts were necessary to help pay thecosts from the Joplin tornado and flooding
Schweich said Tuesday that the budget cuts violated the stateconstitution. A spokesman for Nixon called the ruling “procedural”and said it did not affect governors’ constitutional authority tomanage state finances. (AP)
on December 9th, 2011% ![]()
CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–IKEA, the world’s leading home furnishings retailer, today announced plans to install solar energy panels on ten additional United States locations – its entire presence in the Southern U.S. 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 (MW) of solar generating capacity, nearly 45,360 panels, and a projected annual electricity output of 15,248,334 kilowatt hours (kWh).
“This investment extends our solar presence to the Southern U.S., further reducing our carbon footprint and the intensity of the electrical grid.”
This investment by IKEA reinforces the company’s long-term commitment to sustainability and confidence in photovoltaic (PV) technology. IKEA will own and operate each of its solar PV energy systems atop its buildings – as opposed to a solar lease or PPA (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 as listed below with approximate system statistics and corresponding clean energy equivalents (based on calculations from epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html).
- Atlanta, GA – opened in 2005; store size: 366,000 SF on 15 acres
SOLAR PROGRAM: 129,800 SF at 1,038 kW; 4,326 panels generating 1,421,300 kWh/year
Equivalent to reducing 1,080 tons of CO2, 192 cars’ emissions or powering 122 homes
- Charlotte, NC – opened in 2009; store size: 356,000 SF on 25 acres
SOLAR PROGRAM: 126,500 SF at 1,011 kW; 4,214 panels generating 1,330,000 kWh/year
Equivalent to reducing 1,011 tons of CO2, 180 cars’ emissions or powering 114 homes
- Frisco, TX – opened in 2005; store size: 310,000 SF on 28 acres
SOLAR PROGRAM: 114,000 SF at 912 kW; 3,879 panels generating 1,336,300 kWh/year
Equivalent to reducing 1,016 tons of CO2, 181 cars’ emissions or powering 115 homes
- Houston, TX – opened: 1992; new store built: 2004; size: 300,000 SF on 15.6 acres
SOLAR PROGRAM: 116,400 SF at 931 kW; 3,962 panels generating 1,317,500 kWh/year
Equivalent to reducing 1,001 tons of CO2, 178 cars’ emissions or powering 113 homes
- Orlando, FL – opened in 2007; size: 309,000 SF on 22 acres
SOLAR PROGRAM: 120,900 SF at 967 kW; 4,115 panels generating 1,421,500 kWh/year
Equivalent to reducing 1,080 tons of CO2, 192 cars’ emissions or powering 122 homes
- Round Rock, TX – opened in 2006; store size: expanding to 306,000 SF on 22 acres
SOLAR PROGRAM: 203,700 SF at 1,629 kW; 6,932 panels generating 2,398,000 kWh/year
Equivalent to reducing 1,822 tons of CO2, 324 cars’ emissions or powering 206 homes
- Sunrise, FL – opened in 2007; size: 293,000 SF on 20 acres
SOLAR PROGRAM: 132,100 SF at 1,056 kW; 4,494 panels generating 1,554,600 kWh/year
Equivalent to reducing 1,181 tons of CO2, 210 cars’ emissions or powering 134 homes
- Tampa, FL – opened in 2009; store size: 353,000 SF on 29 acres
SOLAR PROGRAM: 148,700 SF at 1,189 kW; 5,061 panels generating 1,792,300 kWh/year
Equivalent to reducing 1,362 tons of CO2, 242 cars’ emissions or powering 154 homes
- Woodbridge, VA – opened in 2001; 325,000 SF on 11.5 acres
SOLAR PROGRAM: 63,900 SF at 511 kW; 2,128 panels generating 644,500 kWh/year
Equivalent to reducing 490 tons of CO2, 87 cars’ emissions or powering 55 homes
- Savannah, GA Distribution Center – opened in 2007; size: 750,000 SF on 115 acres
SOLAR PROGRAM: 187,500 SF at 1,500 kW; 6,250 panels generating 2,029,500 kWh/year
Equivalent to reducing 1,542 tons of CO2, 274 cars’ emissions or powering 175 homes
IKEA already has 12 U.S. solar energy systems operational with 11 more underway. Adding solar to ten more locations increases the company’s solar presence to 75% of its U.S. locations and a total solar generating capacity of approximately 26.8 MW. “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.”
IKEA, drawing from its Swedish heritage and respect of nature, reflects a business and operating model designed to minimize impacts on the environment. 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 U.S.
For the six Florida and Texas stores, IKEA contracted with REC Solar, one of the largest U.S. solar electric providers, with more than 7,000 systems built nationwide. For the four other locations, IKEA contracted with Gehrlicher Solar America Corp., part of Gehrlicher AG, one of the world’s ten largest independent PV project developers and system integrators. Both contracted companies already are implementing other solar PV programs for IKEA too.
IKEA strives to be ‘The Life Improvement Store,’ and since its 1943 founding in Sweden, has offered home furnishings of good design and function, at low prices so the majority of people can afford them. There are currently more than 330 IKEA stores in 40 countries, including 38 in the U.S. IKEA incorporates sustainable efforts into day-to-day business and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. For more information, go to IKEA-USA.com.
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