Zipper Manufacturer Adds Solar to California Facility

By Anca Gagiuc, Associate Editor

YKK (U.S.A.) Inc.
Anaheim, CA

Anaheim, Calif.—YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. celebrated the installation of a 521 Kilowatt (kW) solar photovoltaic system at its facility in Anaheim, Calif. at the beginning of March. Installation firm SunGreen Systems and solar module manufacturer Mitsubishi Electric US Inc. attended the event.

After conducting a research on renewable energy, YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. realized that its Anaheim location could cover most of its cost through solar energy. SunGreen Systems was contracted to install 1,968 Diamond Pro^TM solar modules on the roof of its plant. The installation represents the fourth largest solar panel project in the city of Anaheim and the first for YKK (U.S.A.) Inc.

“Given the current ITC rebate and declining cost of solar, we are seeing more and more companies realize that solar is affordable and payback time is very attractive,” said John Hoffman, managing partner of SunGreen Systems.

According to the installation firm, the system installed at YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. is expected to produce 843,336 kW in the first year of production, the equivalent of a CO₂ offset of 896 tons or of planting 4,484 trees every year. The lifespan of the system would result in a CO₂ offset of 26,880 tons, or the equivalent of planting 134,520 trees.

“We are honored to be a part of the first solar project for YKK in the United States,” said Kiyoshi Furukawa, president & CEO of Mitsubishi Electric US Inc. “This installation demonstrates YKK’s leadership and strong commitment to the environment.”

“Turning to solar energy not only aligns with YKK’s environmental philosophy but our business model as well,” said Alex Gregory, chairman, president & CEO of YKK Corporation of America, the parent company of YKK (U.S.A.) Inc. “It’s a great feeling to know that we are saving on energy costs and producing clean energy.”