Every day real estate agents across Hawaii sell green to make green. They highlight low VOC paints, dual-flush toilets and reclaimed materials during broker’s opens and solar water heaters and water efficient landscaping during appraisals.

 

But few real estate companies put their money where their roof is, which is exactly what Prudential Locations Real Estate did when it installed solar panels in 2008. Since then, the Hawaii real estate company has gone green in a scorching new way, investing in a new 87-kilowatt photovoltaic (PV) system at the company’s Honolulu office. From the time of their installation in 2008 until now, the panels have reduced CO2 emissions by about 650,721 kg, and produced over 382,000 kWh of energy.

 

The solar panels – which currently generate more than 136,000 kilowatt hours of clean, solar electricity each year – are just one way Prudential Locations is bringing to light its corporate sustainability initiative which aims to reduce the company’s carbon footprint. In addition to installing the PV panels, elements of Prudential Locations’ sustainability initiative including a paperless initiative where the agents submit contracts electronically, use of recycled products, as well as recycling.

 

“We live and work in such a beautiful place that it only makes sense that as a company, Prudential Locations do what it can to be sustainable and care for our environment,” said Joe Segal, online marketing manager“By installing the photovoltaic panels at our Honolulu offices, we hope that we are able to set an example for other local companies on how they can make changes both big and small and be sustainable.”

 

The photovoltaic panels currently produce enough electricity to power 382 homes — or all of Pacific Heights – for one full year. But in addition to being good for the environment, PV makes sense for Prudential Locations’ bottom line, saving the company 10 to 15 percent on its electrical bills each year.

 

The PV technology that Prudential Locations installed converts solar energy into electricity with minimal impact on the environment and offers “net metering” which occurs when solar panels generates more electricity than the building can use.

 

Installed by Hawaii-based company Hoku Solar, the project has already planted seeds of excitement amongst Prudential Locations’ agents and employees.

 

“It is a privilege to be able to work for a local company that demonstrates such a deep commitment to the environment and our community,” said Joe Segal.“I think it really speaks to Prudential Locations values and our ability to stay at the forefront — not just for real estate trends, but in sustainability as well.”

 

More information on Prudential Locations’ Green Initiatives can be found at http://www.prudentiallocations.com/green.aspx.