Carr Properties continues its sustainability efforts across its portfolio in 2019, achieving LEED® Gold certification for Midtown Center for the use of energy, lighting, water, and building material, and for incorporating a variety of other sustainable strategies. A key sustainability feature at Midtown Center is an 89,000-gallon on-site water cistern that collects stormwater and HVAC condensate. The water from the cistern is then used to reduce cooling tower makeup potable water usage. Carr Properties also installed a 130-kW rooftop solar PV system at Columbia Center, its LEED® Gold Certified building, located at 1152 15th Street NW, Washington, D.C. The solar PV system started generating power in January 2019.
“We are thrilled for achieving LEED® Gold at Midtown and to have completed our second on-site rooftop solar PV installation at Columbia Center,” said Oliver Carr, CEO of Carr Properties. “Carr Properties is committed to developing projects at the highest environmental standards that have a dynamic, positive relationship with the surrounding neighborhoods. These solar PV projects will reduce base building electrical consumption by approximately 7%, which in turn reduces Carr’s carbon footprint and contributes to the District’s meeting its Renewable Portfolio Standards goals.”
The new rooftop solar PV system was Carr Properties’ second on-site renewable energy project following the completion of the 65-kW rooftop solar PV system at 1875 K Street NW Washington, D.C. in December 2017. These two installations, generating approximately 244 MWh of electricity, and plans for future installations, position Carr Properties as a market leader in office rooftop solar systems in the D.C. Metro area. Carr Properties is also finalizing plans to move forward with over 500 kW/700 MWh of future rooftop solar system installations at The Hub, Barlow Building, 901 K Street, Signal House, and Midtown Center.
Additionally, Carr Properties also recently installed 16 Electric Vehicle (EV) Chargers in seven additional garages bringing the total EV chargers installed across its portfolio to 65; Carr plans to install 35 more EV chargers by 2021.
About Carr Properties
Carr Properties is a privately held real estate investment trust focused on creating value for its shareholders through the ownership, acquisition, and development of high-quality office properties in Washington, D.C., and Boston, MA. The company currently owns a portfolio of 17 commercial office properties totaling approximately 4.5 million square feet as well as a pipeline of five development projects that include: The Wilson and Elm Development in Bethesda, MD; Signal House in the Union Market area of Washington, D.C.; and One Congress in Boston, MA. Upon completion, these projects will add 2.4 Million SF of trophy-quality office space to the company’s portfolio. The company is continuing to expand its portfolio through strategic investments in the Washington, D.C., and Boston areas.