YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. has a fastener assembly plant and office in Anaheim, California, and they are proud of the fact that their facility is running completely on solar energy. In 2014, YKK began researching the possibility of solar energy use at one of its locations, and determined that its Anaheim facility would be the best candidate given the amount of sunlight that it receives. In 2015, the company installed 1,968 Diamond Pro™ solar modules on the roof of this facility. According to SunGreen Systems, the company that installed the modules, this system will produce 843,336 kWh (kilowatts of energy per hour) annually, which will result in a CO2 offset of 896 tons per year. A carbon offset is a reduction in emissions of carbon dioxide or greenhouse gases made in order to compensate for or to offset emission made elsewhere. This amount of CO2 offset would be equal to planting 4,848 trees every year. The life of the solar panel systems would result in a CO2 offset of 26,880 tons, which would be equal to planting 134,520 trees.
To see how much electricity the system has generated since it went online in 2015, click here.
In addition to installing solar panels on its roof, this facility recycles cardboard boxes, newspaper, shredded paper, plastic, broken wooden pallets and plastic pallets. Recycling bins have been placed in their office break room for employees to use, and a compactor consolidates their cardboard and plastic to prepare it to be recycled.
