SUBSCRIBE TO TMCnet
TMCnet - World's Largest Communications and Technology Community

CHANNEL BY TOPICS


QUICK LINKS




IKEA Is Pushing Renewable Energy in the UK by Selling Solar Panels
Green Technology Featured Articles
September 30, 2013

IKEA Is Pushing Renewable Energy in the UK by Selling Solar Panels

By Tammy Marie Rose
TMCnet Contributing Writer

IKEA has announced that it is now selling solar panels at its stores in Britain. The major housewares retailer plans on switching its stores over to solar and wind power by 2020.

IKEA says that it wants to help its customers incorporate renewable energy into their homes. Steve Howard IKEA's sustainability director recently spoke with the Associated Press (News - Alert), "It's the right time to go for the consumers."


Howard states that the falling prices for solar panels brought them to bring them into retail. Though prices have dropped customers won't be buying solar panels on a whim; a 3.36 kilowatt system is priced at $9,200. The hefty price tag (News - Alert) does come with an in-store consultation, includes installation costs and maintenance services. The panels will pay for themselves in savings within seven years of being installed. "If you are going to be in your house that long, your energy will be free after seven years," Howard explains.

To aid in moving their homes to greener horizons IKEA is simplifying the process by showing customers how to use tools like Google (News - Alert) Maps to discover how many solar panels they will need at their location. IKEA employees also help customers figure up what their potential savings could be. The retailer also arranges installation and full service programs. 


image via deepresource

"You can assemble your own kitchen, but we're not suggesting people install their own solar panels on their roof," Howard said.

Howard told the Associated Press that he did not know which market would be the next for the retailer to offer solar panel, but that the United States is a strong possibility. He says the company, 'won't expand the business if it means accumulating big losses.'

"It's a real business and if we take this to global scale it will be of course a commercial business—you've got to make some profit from it."

Home Depot and Lowe's sell solar panels inside their U.S. retail stores. IKEA will be the first to make them available in Britain. They will start with one UK store, but are planning to expand the panels availability across all of their seventeen Britain stores in the next ten months.

IKEA isn't just using solar panels to help push the green movement it has announced that it will halt all sales of traditional lighting and sell only LED bulbs by 2016.




Edited by Ryan Sartor


Green Technology Related Articles






Technology Marketing Corporation

2 Trap Falls Road Suite 106, Shelton, CT 06484 USA
Ph: +1-203-852-6800, 800-243-6002

General comments: [email protected].
Comments about this site: [email protected].

STAY CURRENT YOUR WAY

© 2024 Technology Marketing Corporation. All rights reserved | Privacy Policy