TerraCurve.com: Go beyond green. | Responsible travel news, places, people and events.

Now Trending:

REI stores going solar

Read more about: , , , ,

Recreational Equipment Inc., better know to travel-consumers as REI, is taking steps to make its establishments environmentally friendly.

Recreational Equipment Inc., better know to travel-consumers as REI, is taking steps to make its establishments environmentally friendly. For 2008, the company plans to retrofit over 10% of its stores with solar electric technology. This push for solar energy represents one of the largest solar investments for a specialty retailer in the US.

The company has paired up with Blue Oak Energy, the same group that worked similar initiatives with Google and Whole Foods, to select 11 stores to utilize photovoltaic solar panels, which can generate up to 35% of the stores’ energy needs. The solar investment will generate an estimated 1.1 million kilowatt hours of electricity. According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, that’s enough electricity to power 117 homes for one year and it saves approximately 880 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions.

So which buildings are going green? California, Texas and Oregon are all states that will see some of their REI stores being solar powered. In California, the seven cities include Arcadia, Folsom, Sacramento, San Carlos, San Diego, San Francisco and Santa Rosa. The four other stores to welcome solar power include three in Oregon — Clackamas, Hillsboro and Tualatin — as well as the co-op’s second prototype store in Round Rock, Texas.

The stores selected are in: California: Arcadia, Folsom, Sacramento, San Carlos, San Diego, San Francisco and Santa Rosa; Oregon: Clackamas, Hillsboro and Tualatin; and Texas: Round Rock.

View Comments

More like this:

You can also connect with other eco-minded travelers, businesses and events by joining the Responsible Travel LinkedIn and Facebook groups.

View Comments »

  1. [...] [...]

Comment on this

blog comments powered by Disqus

Subscribe Airlines and Transportation

Latest Headline

Can flight paths and procedures help burn less fuel? A recent Alaska Airlines ‘Greener Skies’ test flight that burned less fuel, made less noise and reduced emissions by 35%, as compared to conventional flights. Full story

Subscribe Products and Services

Latest Headline

New adventure travel site launches to help “Book the Adventure of a Lifetime” A new online booking site, AvidTrips.com, has just launched a public BETA in an effort to establish a “next generation online adventure travel marketplace.” Full story

Subscribe Society and Lifestyle

Latest Headline

Boeing helps Haiti rebuild, schools are top priority A Boeing contribution of $900,000 will help support the reconstruction of Haiti’s public education system – bringing the company’s financial dedication to recovery efforts for the small nation effected by January’s earthquake to a whopping $2.3 million. Full story
-->
Brighter Planet Eco Green Hotel Go Green Expo NaturCert