Macerich®, one of the nation’s leading shopping center owners, developers and operators, is sharply focused on sustainability as a long-term, fully integrated business approach. Throughout its operations, the company is actively integrating sustainable practices designed to ensure a healthy environment for employees, retailers, shoppers and communities. These efforts are designed to help conserve resources while simultaneously supporting the company’s business goals.
For Macerich, the positive economic returns stemming from sustainable practices are equally as important as the social, cultural and environmental benefits. These endeavors complement the company’s longstanding philosophy of engaging and giving back to its local communities.
The company initially implemented a strategic energy plan, which focuses less on certifications and more on making changes across the board to help save energy and the environment, while delivering lower costs. Since then, a comprehensive, five-year sustainability plan was launched. Sustainability is integrated across the portfolio and tailored to each property. Elevating sustainability within the company’s corporate culture is a cornerstone of Macerich’s commitment.
What We’re Doing at Washington Square.
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Our Security Staff uses Global Electric Motorcars and Segways instead of some vehicles powered by gas.
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Maintenance and Housekeeping are replacing some vehicles with fuel-efficient models.
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We use green cleaning products at our center wherever and whenever possible.
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The center has implemented new lighting protocols that allow us to minimize our energy use and lower our carbon footprint without any impact on the shopping experience.
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Our center has a recently upgraded HVAC system that minimizes our energy usage and lowers our carbon footprint.
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We are fortunate to be located in Portland, Oregon, recently named the greenest city in America. Metro, the local tri-county governing agency, provides many ways to reduce, reuse and recycle. We work closely with our Metro Recycle at Work representative to be sure we are kept informed of new avenues for recycling.
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We provide recycling of cardboard, glass and plastic bottles, office paper, cans, scrap metal, plastic film and plastic wrap.
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We recycle fluorescent and compact fluorescent lamps used in the common area and obtain certification of the recycling. We have put our retailers in touch with the recycler for their own lamps.
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We have placed recycling stations throughout the mall common area for paper, glass, plastic and cans. This has been warmly received by our guests.
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Office personnel use their own coffee cups, drinking glasses and reusable water bottles instead of plastic water bottles.
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Holiday décor lighting was changed to LED in 2008.
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Our 34’ Christmas tree found a new home at Fresno Fashion Fair and ornaments were reused by Redmond Town Center.
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As we need to replace lighting in Exit signs, we are switching to LED bulbs.
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On Saturday, April 18, 2009, the Better Business Bureau held a Secure Your ID Day in the parking lot of the US Bank branch on Washington Square property. This shredding event will accept up to three grocery bags of documents per person to be shredded on site. Shredded material will be recycled.
