Bolingbrook IKEA to Add Solar Panels, Reduce Carbon Footprint

officials announced Thursday that they would be adding solar panels to five of its U.S. stores, including those in and Schaumburg. 

According to a Yahoo! Finance report, the solar panels will extend the solar presence to nearly 85 percent of its U.S. locations and collectively, the five stores will total 4.8 megawatts (MW) of solar generating capacity, approximately 20,400 panels, and an annual output of 5.62 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity or the equivalent to reducing 4,273 tons of carbon dioxide—equal to eliminating the emissions of 760 cars or providing electricity for 484 homes yearly.

, according to its Web site, strives to create a better everyday life for people and the earth in general. 

"This includes doing what we can to help create a world where we take better care of the environment, the earth’s resources, and each other," its website reads. "We know this continuous improvement is a never-ending job, and that we are sometimes part of the problem. But we work hard to be part of the solution."

The Yahoo! report listed the store as having a solar program that has the capacity of reducing carbon dioxide by 987 tons, or the equivelant of 176 cars' emissions or powering 112 homes.

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