Toys “R” Us announced plans last week to build the largest solar roof in North America. The solar roof will be located at a distribution center in Flanders, New Jersey. This solar power installation will cover 70% of the distribution center’s 1,281,000-square-foot roof and will consist of more than 37,000 ultra lightweight photovoltaic solar panels. Upon completion, the on-site solar mechanism is estimated to generate 72% of the electrical needs for the Toys “R”Us facility.

Depending on weather conditions, the system is expected to produce 6,362,000-kilowatt hours of electricity per year. Generating the same amount of electricity using non-renewable sources would result in the release of 4,387 metric tons of carbon dioxide.

Beyond the solar project in New Jersey, Toys “R” Us is making a number of sustainable upgrades to its existing stores around the country. In January 2010, a rooftop solar power system was installed at the Babies “R” Us in North Brunswick, New Jersey. This is the first Toys “R” Us store to utilize solar energy. The solar roof currently provides 67% of the electricity needs for the store. This spring, another rooftop solar system at the “R” Superstore in Secaucus, New Jersey and is estimated to generate 33% of electricity for the location.

via: press release
photo credit: cnet