Conshohocken, PA, 2017-Feb-28 — /EPR Retail News/ — Today (February 27, 2017), IKEA announced that it appears as No. 11 on the national U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) National Top 100 list of the largest green power users from the Green Power Partnership. In addition to IKEA’s spot on the National Top 100 list, IKEA also appears fourth on the Top 30 Retail list, and No. 10 on the Top 30 On-Site Generation list.
IKEA is using more than 793 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually, which represents more than 100 percent of its total power needs. In addition, IKEA is generating green power from on-site solar and fuel cell energy systems. IKEA’s choice to use green power is helping to advance the green power market and support clean renewable energy alternatives.
Green power is zero-emissions electricity that is generated from environmentally preferable renewable resources, such as wind, solar, geothermal, biogas, eligible biomass, and low-impact hydro. Using green power helps build demand for the development of new renewable energy capacity nationwide and helps users reduce their carbon footprints.
“We are proud to be recognized by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for our green power use,” said Lars Petersson, IKEA US President and CEO. “By making the choice to use clean, renewable energy, our organization becomes more sustainable, while also sending a message to others across the United States that using green power is a sound business decision and an important tool in reducing one’s carbon footprint in the fight against climate change.”
According to the U.S. EPA, IKEA’s green power use of more than 793 million kWh is equivalent to the electricity use of nearly 73,000 average American homes annually.
Drawing from its Swedish heritage and respect of nature, IKEA strives to minimize its operations’ carbon emissions because reducing its environmental impact makes good business sense. IKEA evaluates locations regularly for conservation opportunities, integrates innovative materials into product design, works to maintain sustainable resources, and flat-packs goods for efficient distribution. U.S. sustainable efforts include: recycling waste material; incorporating key measures into buildings with energy-efficient HVAC and lighting systems, recycled construction materials, warehouse skylights, and water-conserving restrooms; and operationally, eliminating plastic bags from the check-out process, phasing-out the sale of incandescent light bulbs, facilitating recycling compact fluorescent bulbs, and sells only LED bulbs. IKEA U.S. is in the process of installing 32 electric vehicle charging stations at its US stores locations, has solar arrays at 90% of its locations, and owns two wind farms in the U.S.
The Green Power Partnership is a voluntary program that encourages organizations to use green power as a way to reduce the environmental impacts associated with electricity use. The Partnership currently has approximately 1,400 Partner organizations voluntarily using billions of kilowatt-hours of green power annually. Partners include a wide variety of leading organizations such as Fortune 500® companies; small and medium sized businesses; local, state, and federal governments; and colleges and universities. For additional information, please visit http://www.epa.gov/greenpower.
ABOUT IKEA
Since its 1943 founding in Sweden, IKEA has offered home furnishings of good design and function at low prices so the majority of people can afford them. There are currently more than 392 IKEA stores in 48 countries, including 43 in the U.S. IKEA incorporates sustainability into day-to-day business and supports initiatives that benefit children and the environment. For more information see IKEA-USA.com, @IKEAUSANews, @IKEAUSA or IKEAUSA on Facebook, YouTube, Instagram and Pinterest.
Contact:
IKEA
Name: Mona Astra Liss, Corporate Public Relations Director
Phone Number: 610.834.0180, ext.5852
Email: mona.liss@ikea.com
U.S. EPA
Name: Melissa Klein
Phone Number: 202-343-9207
Email: Klein.Melissa@epa.gov
Source: IKEA