In Portland, Ore., Nike is taking extra steps to “go green” through creative solutions at one of its retail locations. With the introduction of new travel options provided by Northwest Airlines (NWA), leveraging a Nike “Eco-Class” program and working strategically with the Port of Portland, the authority responsible for Portland International Airport (PDX), a Nike retail location in the airport is working to mitigate its carbon emissions more than ever before.

In early 2006, NWA established non-stop service between PDX and Tokyo Narita International, a common air commute for Nike and other area businesses. The Port of Portland allocated its marketing funds for the project to Nike Travel and NWA by supporting Nike’s Eco-Class program and adding an element of climate “neutrality” to the new service. The program, started in 2002 by Nike Travel and a few of our preferred suppliers, funds oxygen generating projects and improvements to the emissions from other devices throughout Oregon.

After looking into a number of different project possibilities, the funds were used to install a solar panel array on the roof of the PDX. The solar panels generate electricity that is fed directly into the PDX power grid. A real-time monitoring system measures how much energy is being produced, how much CO2 is offset, and the approximate dollar value of the electricity generated.

The amount of energy generated by the PDX solar array offsets approximately 75 percent of Nike Airport Store’s electricity use. Since coming on line in May of 2007, the PDX solar array has generated upwards of 15,045 kilowatt hours (KWh) of electricity. That’s enough energy to power an average American household for a year and a half according to The New Book of Popular Science’s 2000 edition article: "Electrical Energy”.

By December of 2007, 28 more panels were added and 56 more are slated for 2008, totaling 140 panels. The change nearly triples collection capacity, and, with these additions, the solar array is expected to produce enough energy to offset the entire Nike Airport store’s energy use, in addition to powering a significant portion of NWA’s PDX operations.

You can check out the rooftop solar array at PDX (in the parking lot of level 7) next time you pass through. A real-time display monitor can also be found in the Nike Airport store. Between Nike’s new Air Travel Policy, which offsets carbon emissions, and our Eco-conscious initiative with PDX, we are striving to continue to reduce our carbon footprint.

Watch a video on the solar panel project to learn more!

Additional numbers from the PDX Solar Array Project:

* Months in service: 12
* Current number of solar panels: 84 (increasing to 140 by the end of 2008)
* Total CO2 Reduction to date: 31,200 lbs
* Estimated dollar value of energy produced: $6,768
* Highest hours of energy production: 9-10am, 12-1pm, and 2-3pm