Sustainable living. Island style.
Having been in the retail business for thirty one years, Woodgrove has long embraced the importance of the 4 Ps – Product, Placement, Price and Promotion. These days we are focused on a different set of Ps - Planet and People. We have developed some initiatives to help create a greener shopping experience and create a better sustainable living environment.
In 2011, Woodgrove Centre won first place in an internal Ivanhoe Cambridge competition for the best Extreme Sustainability Make over (ESM), allowing us to set into action and work towards our initiatives with the awarded funds. During the 2012 year, Woodgrove will continue to work towards a goal of achieving a more “Sustainable” shopping centre.
Our initiatives:
WATER
THE GRASS ISN’T ALWAYS GREENER.
Irrigation reduction: During the summer, Woodgrove Centre will significantly reduce irrigation of the grass, which will reduce water consumption by approximately 35%.
WHY THE WEST COAST RAIN IS NOT A PAIN.
Rainwater harvesting program: In Nanaimo the annual average precipitation rate is 1099 mm (46 in). Our goal is to set up a smaller scale rainwater harvesting system (RWH) via a roof collections system and use the water for shrub landscape watering and the car washing service available in the parking lot.
NATURE’S CALLING. QUITE LITERALLY.
Low flow toilet conversion: In 2010, the centre’s public washroom urinals were converted to low flow units, saving 88% of the water normally consumed. The remainder of the toilets in the public washrooms and retailer units will be converted to low flow. We estimate an annual savings of over 2 million litres of water.
WASTE
WASTE MANAGEMENT IS ALWAYS IN FASHION.
Let’s make waste disappear: So long waste! Watch for our new “Let’s Make Waste Disappear” bag recycling station – coming in Spring 2012.
WE’RE NOT JUST GOING GREEN. WE’RE GOING CLEAN.
Clean Nanaimo: How do we make Nanaimo cleaner? We clean it. Woodgrove Centre has partnered with Nanaimo Green Patrol, to work towards making Nanaimo a cleaner place to live, work and play. Our staff will volunteer within the community on two (2) dates to clean our environment.
WE’RE SO PRO-RECYCLING, WE EVEN RECYCLED THIS HEADLINE.
e-waste recycling: In partnership with the Nanaimo Recycling Exchange (NRE), we plan on introducing a regular e-waste collection program at the centre on one weekend each month. Watch for ways in which you may be able to contribute to the recycling program.
During Fall 2011 and January 2012, Woodgrove partnered with the WAVE Babes “Think Pink, When You Think Green” campaign – a fundraising initiative for the Nanaimo & District Hospital Foundation. This worthy cause supported both the environment and our health care programs in Nanaimo by way of collection of electronics, scrap metal and returnable beverage containers.
CARBON EMISSIONS
CARPOOLING. FUNNY WORD. GREAT CONCEPT.
Carpooling: To reduce the number of staff vehicles commuting to the centre, Woodgrove has created a carpooling program for the onsite staff. This program allows employees to register online and match their travel with other carpoolers. Click here for more information.
ELECTRICITY
CORRIDOR LIGHTS ARE GREAT. WHEN YOU’RE IN A CORRIDOR.
Corridor lighting controls: We are adding energy management controls to the back corridor lighting to reduce the energy consumed by ensuring the lights are turned off automatically when not required after hours.
KEEP UP WITH THE JONESES STORE.
Store lighting conversion project: With the various tenant upgrades and renovations under way, Woodgrove is working alongside Tenant Coordination, to convert lighting in a store to the most modern, energy-efficient lighting. A comparison will be done on the lighting costs (before and after) and we anticipate this will show a substantial reduction in both costs and electricity.
