Nov 18 2010
Ricoh Americas, an auxiliary company of Ricoh Company, declared that Ricoh Electronics, another subsidiary of Ricoh Company, has taken initiatives to install a rooftop solar energy system.
The system proposed to be installed over its headquarters located in Tustin, California, will meet around 10% (roughly 350,000 kWH) of the electric power requirements of the building. The system, which was anticipated to be commissioned during 2011 will offset carbon dioxide emissions to the tune of 98.1 metric tons every year and allow the company to save over $56,000 on its electric power spending.
Ricoh Electronics has entered in to an agreement with SPG Solar, a known solar systems providing and executing company, to install the solar systems. SPG solar will install around 1,000 highly productive, silicone crystal solar panels over the rooftop, to meet a part of the building’s power requirement with clean energy. The system is expected to take advantage of California’s sunny climate and generate maximum power. The company is planning to cover nearly 60% of its installation costs by availing the cost incentives provided by state and federal governments and recover the entire cost of the installation within a span of five and a half years. This facility will be the first solar facility of the company outside Japan.
Ricoh Electronics, 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. According to Yoshinori Yamashita, Ricoh Electronics President, the proposed solar installation shows the continued passion of the company towards environmental protection and the steps it has taken to prevent pollution and use energy resources efficiently.