By Theresa Ficazzola
Many large U.S. companies are choosing to power their buildings, stores and warehouses with solar power, which of course makes perfect sense. They have the capital, resources and land to make alternative energy part of their corporate vision, plus the continuing decrease in the price of solar is making it more affordable for everyone to enjoy.
There are tremendous benefits to solar power for large corporations, individual homeowners and everyone who calls this planet home. These include: cost savings, tax benefits, a more efficient heating and cooling system, positive environmental change, and a direct impact to our planet.
Many different types of companies (both large and small) are reaping the benefits of solar power, along with schools, universities, hospitals, and the government.
Just last week, Disney announced that it has commissioned a 20 acre solar farm (in the shape of Mickey Mouse’s head!) consisting of 48,000 solar panels to be built in Orlando, Florida that will be used to help power Walt Disney World Resort.
And this past February, Apple committed $848 million to build a 2,900 acre solar farm that will power its new corporate headquarters and data center in Cupertino, California.
According to the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), more and more of the countries’ leading corporations are turning to solar. As of 2014, the companies with the most solar capacity in the U.S. have 1,110 systems totaling 569 megawatts…that’s enough electricity to power more than 115,000 homes and enough solar power to prevent 549,296 metric tons of damaging carbon emissions in the air.
The SEIA has also determined that many companies that have already installed solar are financing even more solar projects. The top five companies (as of 2014) with the largest percentage of facilities with solar power are IKEA, GM, VF Outdoor, Johnson & Johnson and REI.
In terms of geography, California and New Jersey rank number one and two for the most commercial solar installations, but new states are entering the game, too, according to SEIA.
In its 2014 year-end report entitled “Solar Means Business: Top U.S. Commercial Solar Users,” the SEIA reported that the top 25 companies (ranked by megawatt capacity) utilizing solar power are:
- Walmart
- Kohl’s
- Costco
- Apple
- IKEA
- Macy’s
- Johnson & Johnson
- Target
- McGraw Hill
- Staples
- Campbell’s Soup
- U.S. Foods
- Bed Bath and Beyond
- Kaiser Permanente
- Volkswagen
- Walgreens
- Safeway
- FedEx
- Intel
- L’Oreal
- General Motors
- Toys “R” Us
- Verizon
- White Rose Foods
- Toyota and AT&T (tied at 25)
If you’d like to make an indirect impact on our earth, consider shopping at stores or purchasing products and services from these companies that have made a conscious decision to help our planet.
If you’d like to hear how SI Solar can help you or your business save money with your own solar panel system, we can provide you with a free quote. You’ll save money for yourself and do something good for current and future generations.
