Town Center mall makes major reduction in carbon emissions

Published June 26th, 2008

By Dale M. King
CITY EDITOR

During the past four years, Town Center at Boca Raton mall and its owner, Simon Property Group, have reduced the amount of local carbon emissions.

That reduction, officials said, is equal to the addition of 336 acres of forests or taking 236 cars off the street throughout the Boca Raton area.

In all, mall officials said, Simon – owner of about 300 malls and shopping centers throughout the United States -- has saved nearly 68,000 metric tons of carbon emissions from being disbursed into the atmosphere through state-of-the-art energy efficiency practices.

“While we work hard to maintain a safe, comfortable and fun shopping experience for all of our customers, tenants and employees, we also strive to safeguard the environment in the communities we serve,” said Venetia Tiberi, director of mall marketing at Town Center at Boca Raton. “Energy conservation, protecting our water resources and taking other steps are necessary to enhance, maintain and protect our environment.”

Locally, she said, Town Center and its parent company implemented a series of initiatives to maximize energy efficiency, including the use of energy efficient lighting, upgrading energy management systems, investing in new, more efficient heating and air conditioning equipment and moving to water-efficient appliances in restrooms.

Between 2003 and 2007, she said, the mall has reduced its carbon emissions by roughly 1,355 tons.

Simon Property Group’s innovative energy management practices since 2003 also have resulted in a savings of 102 million kilowatt hours of electricity or enough electricity to fully power nearly 11,500 American homes,” Tiberi said.

“Just think of the coal and fossil fuels that did not have to be burned to generate the needed power, or offshore oil that had to be refined, natural gas expended, or for more power plants to be built in order to generate the necessary amount of electricity we need,” she said.

“We’re a socially responsible corporate citizen, and very proud of the contributions we’re making throughout our community to safeguard the environment today and for our children of the future,” she said.

Tiberi added that Simon Property Group was named a 2008 Energy Star Partner of the Year by the United States Environmental Protection Agency during ceremonies in Washington D.C.