IKEA has announced a solar installation for its new Las Vegas store is complete and once commissioned, will be the largest single-use retail rooftop solar array in the state of Nevada.
Consisting of 3,620 solar panels, the array will generate approximately 1,750,000 kWh of electricity annually for the store; enough to power 166 homes and offsetting 1,207 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) a year.
It’s the 43rd solar project for IKEA in the U.S. and the vast majority (nearly 90%) of IKEA stores in the country now have solar panels.
Globally, IKEA has installed more than 700,000 solar panels and also owns approximately 157 wind turbines in Europe and Canada; with 104 more in the U.S.
The company has set a goal of being energy independent globally by 2020 and has allocated more than $2 billion to invest in renewable energy through to that year. For the USA, IKEA has a goal of 40MW of solar capacity.
IKEA has chosen to own all the systems installed at its premises instead of taking another popular route – the solar power purchase agreement (solar PPA). A solar PPA enables companies to benefit from low cost solar electricity generation, without the substantial up-front capital outlay and burden of ownership.
Not just a solar electricity consumer; IKEA has also turned its hand to some solar- related innovation. Utilizing its flat-pack design pedigree, IKEA has developed solar powered emergency accommodation for refugees; called the Better Shelter.
Among the company’s other sustainability efforts; it is recycling waste material; using energy-efficient HVAC and lighting systems, recycled construction materials, skylights in warehouse areas, and water-conserving bathrooms.
IKEA Group now boasts 139,000 “co-workers” in 44 countries generating annual sales of more than 27 billion euros.
IKEA has also been pushing its suppliers to toe the green line. According to its 2015 sustainability report (PDF), suppliers were 17.6% more energy efficient than they were in FY12.
In FY15, suppliers’ carbon emissions were 69.9 kg CO2/m3 of goods produced, which was 12% lower than FY12.
Carbon emissions from the company’s tier 1 home furnishing, catalogue and food suppliers accounted for 7.9% of its total carbon footprint in FY15.
