As IKEA grows and expands in Canada, the home furnishings retailer remains committed to designing and building stores that are more sustainable. Along with the new stores in Ottawa, Richmond, B.C., and Winnipeg, the new construction of the Montreal store will be 40 per cent more energy efficient than the last stores built in the early 2000s.

Set to be complete early this summer, the Montreal store will not only be North America’s largest IKEA, it will also feature an impressive geothermal installation, an enhanced solar water heater system, and a hybrid heating and cooling system.

“IKEA recognizes the importance of our business having a positive impact on people and the planet,” says Danielle Plamondon, IKEA Montreal store manager. “As an extension of our ongoing commitment to responsible business practices, IKEA Montreal is implementing policies and adopting features that will ensure our new building is more sustainable and efficient.”

Sustainability highlights include:

• Geothermal installation will deliver approximately 100 per cent of the cooling and 50 per cent of the heating needs of the entrance, loading dock and Småland, when at full capacity.
• Use of a hybrid heating and cooling system (added to existing high-performing equipment), with central systems meeting 60 per cent of cooling needs and decentralized systems meeting 100 per cent of heating needs.
• Enhanced solar water heater system.
• De-stratification fans in the warehouse to increase temperature efficiency.
• Building automation system for increased energy efficiency of the building.
• Indoor air quality sensors.
• Improved waste/recycling sorting areas planned for compactor room, and throughout the office area and retail floor.
• Low-flow plumbing equipment.
• Water tap sensors in bathrooms.
• Efficient lighting sources in retail and office areas (LED, T5 and CFL).
• Office area equipped with light occupancy sensors.
• In-store customer take back recycling for bulbs and batteries.
• Fuel-efficient vehicle parking spots.
• Environmentally-friendly cleaning solvents and tissue/paper towel products.
• High efficiency hand dryers.
• Non-solvent based paints with low VOC (volatile organic compounds).
• Built on environmentally remediated land.

To ensure it is leading the way, IKEA measures, records and benchmarks water, energy and waste key performance indicators against national and global counterparts on a regular basis.