Ikea has flipped the switch on its 148,700-square-foot solar energy system in Tampa, making it the company's 22nd store to go solar.

The 4,956 panels will significantly reduce its carbon footprint, said Kathi Garden, a marketing consultant for Ikea.

"It literally is going to be as if it's 242 cars off the road emissions-wise," Garden said.

For the development, design and installation of the Tampa store’s customized solar power system, IKEA contracted with REC Solar Inc., a national leader in solar electric system design and installation with more than 8,000 systems built across the United States.