Electric Vehicle Chargers Come to Ikea
SustainableBusiness
Home furnishings retailer IKEA announced plansto install its first electric vehicle charging stations at select stores in the western US.
The company is partnering with ECOtality, Inc. (NASDAQ:ECTY), a UScompany managing The EV Project, which is a public-private partnershipfunded in part by a federal stimulus grant from the U.S. Department ofEnergy to provide infrastructure to support the deployment of electricvehicles.
ECOtality is overseeing the installation of approximately 14,000commercial and residential charging stations in 18 cities and majormetropolitan areas in six states and the District of Columbia.
IKEA stores are in four of those states. The companies are evaluatingthe feasibility of 10 sites in Arizona, California, Oregon, and/orWashington, and operational charging stations could be available asearly as Fall 2011.
The select stores meeting key criteria will have a minimum of twostations and the pilot program between ECOtality and IKEA will lastthrough December 2012.
IKEA will be responsible for preparing sites for installation andreporting charging information to ECOtality, who will overseeinstallation and manage ongoing charger operations.
In addition to the EV project, IKEA U.S. has solar energy installationsunder construction, or completed, at 20 locations – including aDenver-area store opening this year in Centennial, Colorado that also features a geothermal heating and cooling system.
Other sustainability efforts at US stores include: recycling wastematerial (paper, wood, plastic, etc.); incorporating environmentalmeasures into the construction of buildings in terms of energy-efficient HVAC and lighting systems, recycled construction materials, skylightsin warehouse areas, and water conserving restrooms; and operationally, phasing out the sale of incandescent light bulbs and facilitating recycling of customers’ compact fluorescent bulbs.
Original Article on SustainableBusiness.com
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