The New England Patriots Go Green!

The New England Patriots have a new football season to look forward to, but the team and fans have a something else to celebrate.  A 525-kilowatt photovoltaic (PV) solar system was installed atop Patriot Place generating clean, renewable power.  The system encompasses 2,556 solar panels and will generate more than 625,000 kilowatt hours per year or 30% of the energy consumed by Patriot Place.

Patriot Place is the building adjacent to Gillette Stadium that is a shopping, dining, and entertainment destination in Foxborough, Massachusetts.  The panels were provided by Evergreen Solar, a local solar manufacturer headquartered in Marlborough, Massachusetts.  Over 20 years, the solar energy generated will prevent the release of more than 8,800 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.  This would be the same as eliminating more than 1,600 cars from the road a year!

The panels will be noticeable to fans who attend Patriots football games this year.   Bob Kraft, the CEO of The Kraft Group who own and manage the Patriot Place facilities, says,” “This is good business and the greening of our environment is important for our children and grandchildren.”   The Kraft Group is hoping the visibility of this solar installation will spur additional projects throughout Massachusetts.

Since its inception in 2008, Patriot Place has tried to incorporate sustainable practices into its building design.  They utilize low-emitting construction materials and white roofs to encourage heat island reduction.  They also re-use waste water which saves millions of gallons of water each year and use Big Belly Solar Trash compactors throughout their facilities to save energy and reduce waste volume.