IKEA is working hard to green its big box operations. The furniture giant is building a wind farm to power 17 of its Swedish stores, and they’ve pledged to adhere to the Better Cotton Initiative by 2015. Continuing the company’s efforts to run on 100 percent renewable power, IKEA’s Brooklyn store has just fired up a 19,000 square foot rooftop solar array. The installation will generate 240,000 kWh of clean energy for the store, the equivalent of eliminating 365,615 pounds of CO2. The 1,104 solar panels join a 70,000 square foot green roof on top of the building.
IKEA‘s new solar array is one of the biggest in New York City. “This initiative helps improve the environment and contributes to our vision of creating a better everyday life for the many,” said store manager Mike Baker. Earlier this week, we reported on what is apparently New York’s largest private solar roof, a 850,000 kWh atop a film studio in Greenpoint.
While many New Yorkers love having an IKEA nearby, many Red Hook residents loathe the store. Ever since its opening, they’ve complained about traffic problems. IKEA officials say that the new solar array will reduce emissions equivalent to removing 32 cars from the road, but considering that IKEA has caused weekend traffic in Red Hook to jump from 235 cars to 810 cars, a measly 32 cars won’t make much difference.
Via Brooklyn Paper
Images © Jessica Dailey
