Ricoh Americas has announced that the Ricoh Electronics, Inc. headquarters in Tustin, Calif. is in the process of installing a rooftop solar energy system, which when completed in 2011, will supply 10 percent (approximately 350,000 kWH) of the headquarters building's electricity.
The system will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by up to 98.1 metric tons/year and will provide Ricoh Electronics, Inc. with annual electricity cost savings of more than $56,000.
Ricoh has been steadfastly committed to the environment for over 30 years. In 1976, Ricoh established the Environmental Protection Group responsible for keeping Ricoh's environmental goals and strategies as key considerations when planning, developing, designing and promoting new products and services.
In 2003, Ricoh introduced its first "Eco-Board" in Osaka, Japan, a billboard powered solely by renewable energy. A billboard powered 100% by the sun debuted in New York City's Times Square early 2010. Ricoh also set medium and long-term targets in 2009, to reduce the total CO2 emissions to 30% by fiscal year 2020 and 87.5% by fiscal year 2050, as compared to fiscal year 2000.
Ricoh Electronics, Inc.'s solar-powered facility is another example of Ricoh's continued dedication to the environment
. Ricoh's Atsugi and Numazu facilities in Japan currently have solar power systems installed, but the Tustin facility will be the first outside of Japan.
"Installation of this system is a natural extension of Ricoh's continued focus on developing and implementing environmental protection activities that lead to prevention of pollution and more efficient use of resources," said Yoshinori Yamashita, President, Ricoh Electronics, Inc.
Ricoh Electronics, Inc. engaged SPG Solar Inc., a leader in the development, design and installation of high-performance solar energy systems, to manage the project. SPG Solar will be installing nearly 1,000 cutting-edge, silicone crystal solar panels to create the solar energy system on Ricoh Electronics, Inc.'s existing headquarters building.
The system takes advantage of Ricoh Electronics, Inc.'s location in sunny Southern California. Ricoh Electronics, Inc. offset approximately 60 percent of the solar system's cost by incentives offered by the federal and state government, and expects to recoup its costs for the project in 5.5 years.
"It is commendable that Ricoh Electronics, Inc. has continued their commitment to building such a sizable system," said Tom Rooney, CEO and President of SPG Solar.
"At SPG Solar, we rarely come across a client that is willing to take so many steps to show such a serious commitment to sustainability. That Ricoh Electronics, Inc. has done so is very impressive."
Ricoh Electronics, Inc. achieved zero waste to landfill status in 2001, and all its operations have maintained certification to ISO 14001 since 1999. In addition, Ricoh Electronics, Inc. employees
are actively engaged in sustainability initiatives, including submitting 1,360 improvement suggestions in FY 2009, which resulted in over $2 million in savings.
Ricoh Electronics, Inc. will host a grand opening ceremony upon completion of the solar system installation in early 2011. The ceremony will include the unveiling of a display in the headquarters building's lobby which streams real-time solar energy performance and production data.
Source - Solardaily
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