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News: IKEA to Sell Solar Panels?

080708_tf_ikeasolarpanel.jpgThere are plenty of different solutions for installing solar panels for your home energy use. But getting solar panels may be getting easier, cheaper and a lot more Swedish. IKEA plans to pour $77 million into clean-technology start-ups within the next five years and, here’s the kicker, could add "green" goods such as solar panels to its inventory...

 
 

Trying to commercialize affordable green technology could one day lead to IKEA selling the resulting products in its stores. These products could include solar panels, efficiency meters, and lighting; as well as more sustainable materials, and water treatment and conservation.

This effort is not alone among IKEA's latest moves in support of sustainability. IKEA wants to eliminate its checkout use of plastic bags by the fall (It began charging customers over a year ago), it encourages its staff members to use hybrid cars or bicycles, and it pledged to carry organic consumables, including coffee, jam, and schnapps, within the year.

The only thing left to wonder is, What will the IKEA solar panels be called?
If we use the Swedish Furniture Name Generator we get: SOLLÄRPPÄNN

More found here.

Tags

NEWS, electricity & power, IKEA, Green, Clean Technology, Conservation, Solar Panels

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Comments (5)

YAY for Ikea!!

How amazing are the Ikea big blue Ikea bags to have around? It's great advertising for them, and they can handle anything!

I love to use mine as a laundry bag - much easier than an oddly shaped basket to carry.

posted by icmags on August 7th 2008 at 3:38pm
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What a great idea... I love it!

posted by ekoshyun on August 7th 2008 at 6:40pm
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Great, Ikea... now how about adding some vegan fare at your cafeterias?

posted by hejiranyc on August 8th 2008 at 6:51am
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Will these be made of particle board and bust in like 9 months? That seems to be the lifespan of every other ikea product in exsistence. lol

posted by chusmabilly on August 8th 2008 at 7:09am
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Maybe when they start offering green furniture, etc., they can forget about the $1 plastic bag guilt tax and just eliminate plastic bags altogether? hejiranyc: I second your comment. Veggie Swedish meatballs, anyone?

posted by asurroca on August 9th 2008 at 6:38pm
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