Outdoor furniture manufacturer Kay Park Recreation has made a significant commitment to sustainability by transitioning to 100% on-site solar power at its facilities in Janesville, Iowa. The company’s campus solar array has already produced 385 MWh of carbon-free electricity, effectively meeting all of Kay Park’s power generation needs.
Chris Borglum, President, and Co-owner of Kay Park Recreation, emphasized the company’s dedication to investing in renewable energy systems for the betterment of its employees, partners, and communities. Beyond adopting solar power, Kay Park is actively enhancing its operations through digital tools and trade shows to advance sustainable manufacturing and customer experience.
The solar energy generated by Kay Park’s installation can power over 1,000 park lamps for a year, charge 11,000 electric vehicles, or support 200 fully powered community events. This transition to renewable energy sources coincided with upgrades to the company’s manufacturing facility, incorporating new technologies like an enterprise resource planning system, advanced laser-cutting tools, robotic welders, and material routers.
The installation of the on-site solar array was completed in September 2024 in collaboration with Des Moines-based supplier Current Renewable Efficiencies, which installed 638 solar modules. Kay Park Recreation, a seasoned player in the outdoor furniture industry with 71 years of experience, continues to demonstrate its commitment to sustainability and innovation.
Rod Walton, Senior Editor at EnergyTech.com, highlights the growing trend among large-scale energy users, including Fortune 500 companies and mission-critical entities like military bases and universities, to prioritize sustainability and resilience. These users are increasingly adopting renewable energy solutions, such as power purchase agreements and on-site projects like microgrids, rooftop solar, energy storage, and digitalization, to achieve net-zero carbon goals.
EnergyTech’s focus on supporting the sustainability and resiliency goals of critical energy users underscores the industry’s shift towards cleaner and more efficient energy practices. As companies and institutions strive to reduce their carbon footprint, initiatives like Kay Park Recreation’s transition to on-site solar power serve as a model for sustainable business operations in the outdoor furniture sector and beyond.
