Ikea powers up solar in Brooklyn

Brooklyn, N.Y. -- One of the largest commercial solar rooftop installations in the five boroughs has gone live. Ikea announced that the solar energy system on its store in Brooklyn, N.Y., now is commissioned, operational and certified by Con Edison and New York City. The 200 kW array occupies 19,000 sq. ft., with four different module types totaling 1,104 panels.

The installation will generate 240,000 kWh of renewable electricity annually for the store, the equivalent of reducing 365,615 lbs. of carbon dioxide (CO2), eliminating the emissions of 32 cars, or providing electricity for 20 homes yearly.



Ikea Brooklyn store also features 70,000 sq. ft. of green roof, a 6.5-acre waterfront esplanade, multiple transit options, and has been certified as a Brownfield redevelopment. The store has been awarded LEED Silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.



Other Ikea U.S. sustainable building initiatives include: solar energy systems operational in Burbank, Calif.; Pittsburgh; and Tempe, Ariz., with installation underway on programs at seven locations in California and two other east coast stores: Paramus, N.J.; and Stoughton Mass. Both a solar energy and geothermal system were incorporated into Ikea’s soon-to-open store in Centennial, Col. (See related story).