La Palmera is always working to be a good steward of the environment. Following its initial two-year $50 million renovation, the mall was awarded LEED Silver for Core and Shell 2.0 in 2011, the first indoor mall in the U.S. to receive the prestigious designation. Shoppers can also see how La Palmera is going “green” through informative mall signage and ongoing programs such as recycling.
Did you know that driving a car to and from work generally uses more energy than what a person uses in an entire workday? That’s why La Palmera encourages smarter driving habits and provides preferred parking spaces to fuel-efficient and low-emission vehicles. Just look for the ‘E’ parking signs located near entrances around the mall. Free vehicle charging stations, available during regular mall hours, are located adjacent to mall’s exterior wall in the parking area between JCPenney and Macy’s off McArdle Road.
La Palmera’s highly efficient Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) and lighting systems, including the use of solar tubes and windows, has reduced the mall’s energy use by approximately 1.4 million kilowatts each year — enough energy to power more than 100 homes annually.
Did you know? We save 2,600 gallons of water each day by having low flow toilets and faucets; that’s enough water saved to fill up 100 bathtubs a day.
By using native and adapted plants, drip irrigation for all areas except lawns and automated controllers with rain and freeze sensors, La Palmera uses about 50% less water for irrigation than standard developments of this size. That’s saving 600 gallons a day.
La Palmera is the first indoor mall in the U.S. to be pre-certified LEED-CS Silver, the third highest destination available, by the U.S. Green Building Council who sets “green” construction guidelines.
A LEED rating, which stands for Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design, is based on how much a development can be designed to reduce the impact on the environment in five categories including improved water and energy efficiency, a reduction in waste and higher indoor air quality.
