solar energy, solar power, IKEA, recycling materials, solar array, record breaking array, photovoltaic array, michigan IKEA, waste water, ev charging station, material recycling, IKEAIKEA has developed some innovative green designs over the years, but now the home furnishings retailer has the distinction of having the largest photovoltaic array in the state of Michigan. The 122,200-square-foot PV array was officially plugged-in today, and consists of a 977.6-kW system built with 4,160 panels. Installed at the Detroit-area store in Canton, the array will produce approximately 1,114,943 kWh of clean electricity annually — that’s the equivalent of reducing 769 tons of carbon dioxide, or the annual emissions of 151 cars or 96 homes.
The array was constructed by SoCore Energy, one of the largest commercial solar developers in the Midwest and developer of more than 65 U.S. commercial PV installations.
The solar array is one of several eco-friendly initiatives that the Swedish company has implemented. Included among them are evaluating locations regularly for energy conservation opportunities, integrating innovative materials into product design, working with Global Forest Watch to maintain sustainable resources and, of course, producing flat-packs goods for efficient distribution. The company has also championed recycling waste material (paper, wood, plastic, etc.), incorporating environmental measures into the construction of buildings in terms of energy-efficient HVAC and lighting systems, recycling construction materials, eliminating plastic bags, phasing out the sale of incandescent light bulbs, and installing electric vehicle charging stations at nine stores in the Western U.S!
– source inhabitat.com