Home Improvement

HOUSTON — Ikea has officially plugged-in the solar energy system installed at its store in Houston, Texas – which, when combined with Ikea projects atop stores in Frisco and Round Rock, will make Ikea the state’s largest solar owner. Ikea Houston’s 116,400-square-foot PV array consists of a 813-kW system, built with 3,388 panels.

Home Depot has announced the expansion of its major appliance brands by adding Whirlpool, Electrolux and Frigidaire in a limited number of stores and on Homedepot.com.

The appliances will be available through the company's Depot Direct delivery network and available to be ordered in all U.S. stores. Depot Direct includes more than 3,000 appliances delivered and installed to the customer's home within one to five days of purchase. Appliance purchases through Depot Direct include free delivery and haul-away.

New York -- Energy cost savings, government/utility incentives and rebates, and enhanced brand or public image ranked as the top drivers of energy-efficiency decision-making in the United States and Canada, according to a global survey of building owners and operators and facility managers by Johnson Controls.

Vineland, N.J. -- Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust said that Body Central has opened a 4,256-sq.-ft. store at Cumberland Mall, in Vineland, N.J.

Justice also recently opened at Cumberland Mall, which is anchored by Boscov’s, Marshalls, J.C. Penney, Burlington Coat Factory, Michaels, Old Navy and Bed Bath & Beyond.

 

Dallas -- X Team International said that Dallas-Fort Worth-based partner Venture Commercial has completed leases for Northern Tool + Equipment locations in Nebraska, Texas and Georgia. Houston-based X Team partner Baker Katz assisted with the Texas lease.

Northern Tool + Equipment has filled a 15,142-sq.-ft. box in Omaha, Neb., located in 72 Pacific Plaza; a 15,142-sq.-ft. box in Conroe, Texas, located in the Pine Hollow Shopping Center; and a 15,585-sq.-ft. box in Buford, Ga., located in Lee’s Crossing Center.
 

New York -- Brookshire Brothers has launched a facility-wide lighting update, including in-store, parking lot, exterior signage and refrigerated case fixtures.

Using a combination of new linear fluorescent lighting and LED technologies -- from GE Lighting, East Cleveland, Ohio -- Brookshire will, once all of its stores have been completed, reduce its annual operating costs more than $235,000.

Faucet manufacturer Moen Inc. promoted Ji Kim to director of global design, effective immediately. In her new role, Kim will be responsible for providing design leadership and vision for the global design team at Moen. She will set and drive strategy for product design in several countries for categories including faucets, showerheads, accessories and bath safety items.

Orlando, Fla. -- Ikea said Wednesday that it has officially plugged-in the solar energy system installed at its store in Orlando, Fla.

The 120,900-sq.-ft. PV array consists of a 967-kW system, built with 4,115 panels. The retailer said the program will produce approximately 1,421,500 kWh of clean electricity annually, the equivalent of reducing 1,080 tons of carbon dioxide, eliminating the emissions of 192 cars or powering 122 homes yearly.