The Goleta and Santa Barbara business community gathered in January to celebrate Deckers Brands headquarters in Goleta switching on one of the area’s largest commercial solar projects. Both the Santa Barbara and Goleta Chambers of Commerce as well as the Goleta City Council were present to commend the company’s leadership in environmentally sustainable practices. Nearly 1,200 solar photovoltaic panels were installed on three of Deckers’ buildings to offset about one third of the campus’ electrical consumption.
The project was championed by Lance Lyon, Director of Facilities at Deckers Brands Goleta. “Today, we can install solar for about a third of what it would cost us only eight years ago, so it makes sense to take advantage of the increasingly attractive technology to reduce our carbon footprint and save money at the same time,” noted Lance. “We owe this to our environment as well as to our investors.” To showcase the new system, interactive kiosks have been installed at the Deckers Brands Showcase and main lobby so visitors and employees can see the output of the solar panels and environmental impact of the power generated in real time. The 394-kilowatt solar system will offset about 433 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year, which equates to the emissions from over 1,000 barrels of oil consumed1. “At Deckers, we believe in doing the right thing, even when no one is watching. It’s important to us as a company that we carry out our business decisions being mindful of the environment and the communities in which we operate,” commented Deckers CEO Dave Powers.
Deckers partnered with local solar company Brighten Solar Construction to install the system. The high-efficiency panels were installed with a custom racking system to utilize the available roof space and maximize the company’s return on investment. “Commercial buildings use about a third of the total electricity consumed in the U.S., so a company like Deckers going solar is a huge win for our environment,” explained Jeremy Favier, Co-Founder and COO of Brighten Solar Co. “Deckers is setting an example of leadership in sustainability, and they should be proud.”
The two companies also launched a Corporate Solar Program for employees at the event to help motivate Deckers employees to install solar on their homes. Deckers has offered a contribution to each employee’s project cost and Brighten Solar Co. will donate to a nonprofit partner on the employee’s behalf. Deckers has chosen the FishReef Project, a local marine conservation effort to restore Goleta’s coastal kelp beds. “We are so excited to give Deckers employees an opportunity to double their impact with this program,” says Lauren Coiro, Community Outreach Coordinator for Brighten Solar Co. “Many of them are surfers and divers, so supporting the FishReef Project will help preserve the coastlines they enjoy every day.”
Going solar is one of many measures that Deckers has taken to reduce the environmental impact of its business operations, including earning a certification of Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) from the U.S. Green Building Council. Goleta City Councilman Roger Aceves also praised Deckers at the ribbon-cutting ceremony, reminding the crowd that the City of Goleta has pledged to switch to 100% renewable energy by 2030. This aligns with California’s ambitious energy goals to reach 50% renewable energy by 2030.
1. EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator
About Deckers Brands Deckers Brands is a global leader in designing, marketing and distributing innovative footwear, apparel and accessories developed for both everyday casual lifestyle use and high performance activities. The Company’s portfolio of brands includes UGG®, Koolaburra by UGG®, HOKA ONE ONE®, Teva® and Sanuk®. Deckers Brands products are sold in more than 50 countries and territories through select department and specialty stores, Company-owned and operated retail stores, and select online stores,
including Company-owned websites. Deckers Brands has a 40-year history of building niche footwear brands into lifestyle market leaders attracting millions of loyal consumers globally. For more information, please visit www.deckers.com.
Pictures and article by: Deckers Brands Media: media@deckers.com
Additional contact info: Brighten Solar Co: Lauren Coiro Lauren@brightensolarco.com
