The discussion of different types of energy and how best to use them has been central to many of the debates this political season. In the contest between President Obama and former Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney, the mix of various sources of energy has been discussed at length with both men making the case for a U.S. that is less dependent on other nations for its power.
In the U.S., retailers and consumer products companies are among the leaders in using what once was described as "alternative" sources of energy, primarily solar and wind. A recent report published by the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) listed Walmart, Costco, Kohl's, IKEA, Macy's, McGraw Hill, Johnson & Johnson, Staples, Campbell's Soup and Walgreens as the top retail companies in terms of energy capacity.
Yesterday, IKEA announced plans for the home furnishings retailer to become energy independentby 2020 through its use of solar and wind power. The company plans to install more rooftop solar panels, build wind farms and switch from incandescent light bulbs to significantly more energy efficient LEDS.
IKEA currently has solar panels on 34 of its 38 stores and distribution centers in the U.S. "Each roof is a power station in the making," Steve Howard, IKEA Group's chief sustainability officer told USA Today.
For retailers today, the use of solar and wind aren't just seen as a nice thing to do, but a competitive necessity.
"Sustainability will decide the winners and losers in the business community," Mr. Howard told USA Today.
