Hobbs Brook Management’s commitment to sustainability drives increase in solar energy systems

Wakefield, MA Hobbs Brook Management LLC, a commercial property management and development firm specializing in leasing, construction and development of class A office space, has completed two solar canopy arrays at its 601 and 701 Edgewater Dr. The new solar arrays align with Hobbs Brook’s commitment to deliver high-quality, sustainable office environments and reduce its carbon footprint.

The renewable energy systems will produce over 16 million kilowatts of electrical generation over the system’s lifetime, saving an annual 460 gallons of CO2 emissions, 52,000 gallons of gas, and 3,650 light bulbs. The new photovoltaic arrays increase Hobbs Brook’s solar generation from 2.9 to 4 megawatts of electricity.

In addition to the energy savings, the systems produce zero carbon emissions. Situated atop parking garages, they provide coverage for the top garage levels, further reducing snow removal efforts and salting operations which can damage concrete structures and surrounding ecosystems, and eliminating the need to puncture roof membranes on the buildings. The large wire racks allow for the easy exchange of solar cells when more efficient technology becomes available.

“Massachusetts ranks as the most energy-efficient state in the country by the American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE). Hobbs Brook shares this value with the Commonwealth, and is proud to be the leading Massachusetts commercial real estate developer for solar power,” said Bradley Cardoso, AIA, principal architect for Hobbs Brook.  “We develop buildings for the long-term so we insist on superior quality and sustainability when improving the assets that are core to our business. Each solar array reduces the energy a building consumes by approximately 8 to 13%. We believe reducing our footprint increases the longevity of our buildings, as well as the environment around us.”

Hobbs Brook now has five buildings in its portfolio with solar arrays, having installed solar arrays in 2014 at its properties at 404 Wyman and 275 Wyman in Waltham, Mass., and 95 Hayden Ave. in Lexington, Mass.

Hobbs Brook continues to advance sustainable improvements at its office parks with the planning of a sixth solar array. Construction is expected to be complete by early 2018.

Because the most valuable thing they develop is a relationship, Hobbs Brook Management focuses its efforts on satisfying the individual needs of customers that lease within their parks. A service-oriented provider of class A business solutions to companies large and small, Hobbs Brook builds sustainably, maintains an on-site facilities management staff, and develops or renovates projects for energy efficiency, LEED certification, and the preservation of the local environment. With portfolios in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Georgia and Illinois, Hobbs Brook offers competitive amenities, on-site catering and dining facilities, fitness centers, and a full-service conference center available to tenants and the public. Hobbs Brook enjoys a steady occupancy rate in the 90th percentile, and holds firm to the belief that tenants should feel secure, well-balanced and prevalent at work.