Solar Daily reported last week (thanks to Grist for the info) that Powell's Books, one of the U.S. largest booksellers, will begin using solar power at their Portland-based warehouse next month.According to the report, the 100-kilowatt photovoltaic system (including 540 solar panels) positioned on the roof of Powell's 60,000 square foot warehouse in NW Portland, is one of the largest solar electric installations in the State of Oregon.
This is a great way of course not only to support the environment but also to save eventually money by reducing energy costs (payback on the investment is expected within five years). Michael Powell explains on the article that "it made perfect sense for our business financially, and it supports our values as a company. We are continually looking for ways for our business to lessen its impact on the environment."
Kudos to Powell's Books efforts! We definitely hope to see more solar panels on many booksellers' roofs. Solar systems offer a win-win deal that both helps the environment and saves money, and you can even find today ways to bypass the burden of the relatively high initial investment that is required to start using the sun to light your bookstore.Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
Plant a tree for every book you read!
