Westcor, Arizona’s largest manager, owner and developer of retail real estate, 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 across Arizona. These efforts are designed to help conserve resources while simultaneously supporting the company’s business.
For Westcor, 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. Westcor, along with its parent company Santa Monica, Calif.-based Macerich®, 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 its Arizona portfolio and tailored to each shopping center and community. Elevating sustainability within the company’s corporate culture is a cornerstone of Westcor’s commitment.
What We’re Doing at Kierland Commons
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The center offers centralized recycling dumpsters for use by our retailers. We are planning a transition to full service recycling, where all waste is separated and only “true waste” is discarded.
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Our Security Staff conducts patrols of the center using electrically powered vehicles and bikes, instead of vehicles powered by gas.
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Last season, we switched our holiday lighting from incandescent to LED. This change has resulted in lowering our carbon footprint.
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We’ve greatly improved our coordination with office tenants to adjust energy usage through coordinated HVAC schedules.
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Several electrical and storage rooms have been equipped with motion sensor lighting switches. These sensors prevent the lighting of empty spaces and help save energy.