Alexander & Baldwin has completed its latest rooftop solar project in Hawaii at Kakaako Commerce Center.
According to a March 12 announcement from A&B, the only publicly traded real estate investment trust focused exclusively on Hawaii commercial real estate, the photovoltaic system began delivering energy to the 201,500-square-foot industrial complex at the end of 2023.
Comprised of nearly 1,000 solar panels that span more than 24,000 square feet, "The 464-kilowatt system will provide enough renewable energy to offset approximately 37% of the total energy usage at Kakaako Commerce Center," the announcement noted. "The solar panels serve the dual purpose of generating clean power and providing shade to the building’s top-level parking area."
“Integrating sustainable solutions into our commercial real estate portfolio isn’t just a commitment to the sustainability of our operations — it’s a deliberate investment in the well-being of the communities we serve,” Francisco Gutierrez, senior vice president of development at Alexander & Baldwin, said in a statement. “This initiative enables us to make a meaningful environmentally friendly impact and serves as a practical measure to reduce long-term operational costs, benefitting both our tenants and the broader community.”
The company, whose renewable energy efforts date back nearly 120 years to its first hydroelectric facility on Kauai, "continues prioritizing renewable energy generation projects and expanding other sustainability initiatives across its commercial real estate portfolio," the announcement noted.
Other eco-initiatives underway include retrofitting its properties with "efficient" LED lighting and HVAC systems, EV charging stations, water submeters and low-flow fixtures and water-smart landscaping, A&B said.
The company also has three new solar projects scheduled to be complete by the end of the year.
