Ikea uses sun, wind to become energy independent
As more U.S. businesses embrace renewable energy, IKEA plans to announce Tuesday that it will rely on the sun and the wind to produce all the power it uses at its stores and buildings by 2020.
USA Today
Energy independence by 2020? The idea has been touted on the U.S. presidential campaign trail, but global home furnishings retailer Ikea is announcing plans Tuesday to achieve that goal with solar and wind power.
As more U.S. businesses go solar, the Swedish retailer says it will rely on the sun and wind to produce all the power it uses at its stores and buildings worldwide within a decade. It plans to install more rooftop solar panels, erect wind farms and reduce its energy usage by replacing 1.2 million incandescent light bulbs with 85%-more-efficient LEDs (light-emitting diodes.)
“Each roof is a power station in the making,” says Steve Howard, Ikea Group’s chief sustainability officer, adding that the United States has “fantastic sun … as good as anywhere in the world.” Ikea already has solar panels atop 34 of its 38 U.S. stores and distribution centers.
