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Home furnishings retailer powers up solar energy system

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By Denise Wilson, Staff Writer 6:08 PM Tuesday, January 24, 2012

WEST CHESTER TWP. — On an slightly breezy and overcast day, IKEA plugged in its new solar energy system atop its 344,000-square-foot Butler County location Tuesday morning.

The 128,000-square-foot photovoltaic array consists of a 1,026-kilowatts system, built with 4,186 panels, according to IKEA officials.

“IKEA, drawing from its Swedish heritage and respect of nature, believes it can be a good business while doing good business, and aims for its operations to minimize impacts on the environment,” said Heather Spatz, store manager at IKEA West Chester.

The system, which was developed, designed and installed by Rec Solar beginning in September and completed in December, will produce approximately 1,334,300 kilowatt-hours of clean electricity annually. That’s the equivalent of reducing 1,014 tons of carbon dioxide, eliminating the emissions of 180 cars or powering 115 homes yearly, according to the company.

The system also will offset two-thirds of the store’s energy costs, said Fabian Kulynych, senior commercial project manager for Rec Solar.

“By locking in their cost of electricity for the next 30 to 40 years, IKEA will avoid the 4 percent predicted for fossil fuel-based electricity. In other words, in 40 years from now, IKEA will be producing its own electricity for free while electricity from fossil fuels is expected to cost five times more,” he said.

“These energy savings will allow IKEA to keep its operating costs down, and continue to pass along competitive prices on its products to customers IKEA serves.”

Catherine Stoker, president of the West Chester Township Trustees, said IKEA has really shown the world the way by making vast improvements in marketing, design and packaging for countless products for both homes and businesses.

“Today, we’re celebrating IKEA taking another giant step forward in showing not only residents, but also businesses on how they can make our environment cleaner and reduce our dependence on fossil fuels,” she said.

The solar energy system marks IKEA’s 14th such project in the U.S., said Spatz. Twenty-three additional projects are under way nationwide.

The world’s leading home furnishings retailer opened the store along Interstate 75 near the Union Centre Boulevard exit in March 2008.

Contact this reporter at (513) 483-5219 or dewilson@coxohio.com.

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