REI goes solar

In line with its outdoor friendly clothing and gear, Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI) is taking steps to make some of its buildings environmentally friendly. During 2008, the outdoor co-op is planning on retrofitting more than 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.

Eleven stores have been selected to use 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.

To learn more about REI’s strategies to reduce the co-op’s carbon footprint, check out the 2007 stewardship report.