IKEA announced it has plugged-in a solar panel array atop the new IKEA Burbank, a larger, roomier store that opened in February in Burbank, California, less than one mile away from what was the company’s oldest store in the Western United States.

The new Burbank store’s 71,000-square-foot solar array consists of a 646 kW system, built with 1,872 panels, and will produce approximately 1,033,000 kWh of electricity annually for the store, the equivalent of reducing 726 tons of CO2 – equal to the emissions of 153 cars or providing electricity for 77 homes yearly.

For the development, design and installation of the new store’s solar power system, IKEA selected REC Solar, a national leader in commercial solar electric design and installation with more than 600 systems built across the U.S. VCC Construction built the store that reflects the same unique architectural design for which IKEA stores are known worldwide.

“Completing the solar installation is another exciting and sustainable milestone at the new IKEA Burbank,” said Jeff O’Shaughnessy, store manager. “IKEA strives to create a sustainable life for communities where we operate, and the new IKEA Burbank is furthering this goal with a solar array nearly three times the size of the one atop our old store.”

This array contributes to the IKEA solar presence atop nearly 90% of its U.S. locations, with a total generation goal of more than 42 MW.