Sustainability: Gap installs solar power system
The system installed at the company’s West Coast distribution center will offset 2.5 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions annually.
By Staff -- Modern Materials Handling, 10/23/2008
The sun is shining on Gap Inc.’s West Coast distribution center – at least that’s what they hope – after installing a one megawatt solar power system, one of the largest in Northern California.
The system, completed this month, is expected to offset 2.5 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions annually, the equivalent of taking 2,466 vehicles off the road over the life of the project. Annually, the 1.9 million kilowatt-hours will be generated, equivalent to the electricity needed to power 350 homes.
Gap will be able to buy predictably priced power generated from the system for the next 20 years through a long-term contract, rather than through a major capital investment. This will allow the company to forecast energy costs better and minimize increases and uncertainty in traditional power pricing.
Kindley Walsh Lawlor, senior director of strategic planning and environmental affairs at Gap Inc., said the company made the commitment to host the solar system 15 months ago. According to the company, the system demonstrates the commitment to long-term sustainability, and is an effort that goes beyond the basics of ethical business practices.
MMA Renewable Ventures, a subsidiary of Municipal Mortgage & Equity, LLC, owns and operates the system. The company worked with Gap to finance the system by leveraging tax credits and incentives.
Designed and installed by Sun Power, more than 4,500 solar panels on a mounted track occupy five acres of land, following the sun across the sky.
Gap’s Approach to Environmental Sustainability focuses on three key areas: energy conservation, cotton/sustainable design and output/waste reduction. This includes replacing more than 16,000 light fixtures, encouraging farmers to grow cotton more economically and increasing its paper and corrugated recycling by 90%.
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