Earlier this month, the Staples fulfillment center in Hanover unveiled its 175,000-square-foot photovoltaic rooftop solar panel installation that had been born out of a partnership between the retail giant and SunEdison.
The installation, which covers most of the 200,200-square-foot roof of the building will be able to generate 1.2 million kilowatt hours worth of power. Additionally, because it emits zero emissions, it will offset more than 43 million pounds of carbon dioxide over the next two decades - the equivalent of 4,200 cars driving 12,000 miles every year.
"The solar power system installed at our Hanover fulfillment center is the latest example of Staples' ongoing commitment to environmental leadership," said Mark Buckley, vice president of environmental affairs for Staples. "Through our relationship with solar services provider SunEdison, we are able to purchase solar energy from our rooftop at a rate below or equal to the cost of electricity from the grid."
Shawn Garvin, an administrator for the mid-Atlantic region of the Environmental Protection Agency, added that the agency "applauded" Staples' environmental initiative and hoped it would inspire other retailers to follow their lead.
