Clean-up on aisle ... earth 9

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1. 

   naturescene Posted 3:31 pm
   08 May 2007

   coolJust to nit-pick.
   Kohl's is a department store.  Not a grocery store.
   Otherwise, good news all around.

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2. 

   Pangolin Posted 7:28 pm
   08 May 2007

   It's easy money....First the Kohl's store in question gets an immediate improvement in energy costs the minute the stores solar system goes on line. Second, the stores can now predict their energy costs as a fairly stable equation eliminating nasty surprises on their costs equation.
   Here's the neat trick. For every square meter of rooftop shaded by solar panels saves an additional 20-40% on cooling costs for the area of rooftop shaded. As department stores are fairly large businesses they pay peak-hour costs for power used for air conditioning. So costs actually decline in two areas.
   Now if we could just get them to shade the parking lots with solar panels also. It's freaking HOT out there on a summers day.

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3. 

   Adam Browning Posted 11:47 pm
   08 May 2007

   whupsdepartment, not grocery.  i knew that.  must have been hungry when i wrote it.
   kohl's' purchase is by far the largest purchase of DG solar ever, and really needs to be celebrated.  an announcement like this would have been unthinkable a year ago.  we've come a long way.
   
   Get Some Sun: http://www.votesolar.org

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4. 

   SustainableGreen Posted 1:48 am
   09 May 2007

   Very Good NewsHey, all:
   AS news like this gets out to CEOs of other businesses of all kinds with expanses of roof surface, and given the safe assumption that they all have electricity and other energy bills, we should see more and more installations of this kind. The same CEOs could just as easily, and even more cheaply and effectively, install solar domestic water heater systems.    
   This is why I strongly favor the distributed generation of electricity, and the end of the mentality of 'electricity as commodity', something owned by someone else, which you can only rent on a monthly basis.  
   Another big plus is at least lessening the increase in, and perhaps flattening out Carbon emissions.
   Pangolin's point that it shades otherwise open and exposed roof surfaces is a good one.  The wish for parking covered by PV is also interesting:  the top parking level of the parking garage at Univ. Texas Medical Branch-Galveston is covered with PV, creating shade, reducing heat gain, and making clean electricity.  A praiseworthy act, which could be the start of a valuable trend.  
   Very good news.  
   David
   
   Sustainability For Life
   Messages done with sustainable energy, with Wind and Sun!

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5. 

   GtoeOne Posted 5:45 am
   09 May 2007

   Wal Mart Aurora ProjectI visited Wal-Mart's Aurora project and was very impressed.  The project is comprehensive in scope, from construction to water management.

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6. 

   Delay And Deny Posted 7:51 am
   09 May 2007

   When Does It Hit the Aisles?
   
   Seriously, when are we going to go to Wal*Mart and Home Depot and buy rolls of "Solar Sheeting" like so much roof insulation?
   
   John Bailo, The "Denier Guy"
   
   
   You Read It Here First

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7. 

   envirochic Posted 8:55 am
   16 May 2007

   Who are they kidding?Sure, Kohl's may purchase as much as 90% of their power as green power (solar, wind and methane).  But they really suck when it comes to distribution, vendor contracts and waste!  The average truck is loaded with 2200 cartons, packed with 9 items per box.  Less than 100 cartons are previously used.  And many are full of contaminants that make them non-recyclable.
   In addition, even their store-brand products are individually wrapped in plastic.  And yes, this COULD be recycled, if it weren't for the fact that the employees don't separate the plastic from the trash, and many bags contain stickers, and are made of different types.
   So go ahead and praise Kohl's for green power - but until they require their vendors to pack more items per box, and limit/discontinue the use of plastic, they're no greener than Wal*mart.

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8. 

   SolWiz Posted 4:38 am
   11 Sep 2007

   Howdy AllJust a side note from a new user. I actually work for the company that is putting all that solar on the Kohl's (and most of the Walmarts too). Kohl's is motivated solely by the savings in energy, and that's fine. This is what drives the corporate world after all.
   Walmart is of course full of crap. They are putting a limited amount of solar on a few stores to try to look less evil. But come on, it's Walmart. If they'd just give up burning puppies or something they'd get more credit.

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9. 

   tnewman Posted 4:44 am
   11 Sep 2007

   Wal-Mart and SustainabilityWal-Mart's policies are far from sustainable.  Check out this new report from 23 civil society organizations critiquing Wal-Mart's sustainability initiative: http://www.laborrights.org/projects/corporate/walmart/Cou ...

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