Ikea adds solar power to two more U.S. stores

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa. - Ikea announced that it plans to install solar energy panels on two East Coast stores: Paramus, N.J. and Stoughton, Mass. Pending governmental permits, rooftop installation will begin in the new year, with completion expected in spring 2011. The plans bring the number of U.S. Ikea locations that will have a solar energy system to a total of 13. According to the company, these two systems will represent the largest store-top solar installations for Ikea in the United States.

The Paramus, NJ and Stoughton, MA stores will be outfitted with solar energy systems and with corresponding clean energy equivalents (based on calculations from www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-resources/calculator.html), Ikea reported.

“We are excited about this investment by Ikea in using renewable energy on the East Coast to complement our recently announced plans in California,” said Mike Ward, Ikea U.S. president. “This approach is consistent with our commitment to sustainable building practices and reducing our carbon footprint. We always are open to environmental technologies and are thrilled our evaluation deemed these projects feasible for Ikea.”