Westfield Group
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Green Initiatives
Westfield Old Orchard was selected to receive a $100,000 incentive from ComEd for its commitment to reduce energy usage. The funds, earmarked for energy efficiency projects, were awarded through the utility’s Smart Ideas for Your Business initiative.
Built originally in 1956 and encompassing more than 85 acres, the center conducted a comprehensive, six-month energy audit to determine how energy consumption could be reduced. The audit also uncovered a number of ways the facility could operate in a more environmentally-friendly manner.
As a result of the study, the shopping center is conducting an extensive retrofitting of its light fixtures. This includes replacing older inefficient lighting fixtures and bulbs with more energy-efficient models, which use lower wattage bulbs and reflectors to provide the same amount of light normally produced by two bulbs.
“Buildings consume approximately 30 percent of the energy used in the economy and the typical building wastes as much as 30 percent of the energy it consumes,” said Val R. Jensen, vice president, Marketing and Environmental Programs, ComEd. “Not only can investments in energy efficient operations have a positive impact on the environment, they can result in lower electric bills, which is helpful to our business customers in this tough economy.”
ComEd’s Smart Ideas for Your Business initiative provides both prescriptive and custom incentives to commercial and industrial customers for implementation of a variety of energy efficiency measures, including environmentally friendly lighting, motors, HVAC equipment and chillers.
In addition to the audit of the center’s electrical systems, Old Orchard is focused on improving energy efficiency wherever possible. One example is including electric powered vehicle in the fleet of maintenance carts. In addition, the center is researching energy-efficient boilers for its hot water needs, and also checking on the feasibility of transforming waste oil from restaurants into diesel fuel to be used for property equipment.
Built originally in 1956 and encompassing more than 85 acres, the center conducted a comprehensive, six-month energy audit to determine how energy consumption could be reduced. The audit also uncovered a number of ways the facility could operate in a more environmentally-friendly manner.
As a result of the study, the shopping center is conducting an extensive retrofitting of its light fixtures. This includes replacing older inefficient lighting fixtures and bulbs with more energy-efficient models, which use lower wattage bulbs and reflectors to provide the same amount of light normally produced by two bulbs.
“Buildings consume approximately 30 percent of the energy used in the economy and the typical building wastes as much as 30 percent of the energy it consumes,” said Val R. Jensen, vice president, Marketing and Environmental Programs, ComEd. “Not only can investments in energy efficient operations have a positive impact on the environment, they can result in lower electric bills, which is helpful to our business customers in this tough economy.”
ComEd’s Smart Ideas for Your Business initiative provides both prescriptive and custom incentives to commercial and industrial customers for implementation of a variety of energy efficiency measures, including environmentally friendly lighting, motors, HVAC equipment and chillers.
In addition to the audit of the center’s electrical systems, Old Orchard is focused on improving energy efficiency wherever possible. One example is including electric powered vehicle in the fleet of maintenance carts. In addition, the center is researching energy-efficient boilers for its hot water needs, and also checking on the feasibility of transforming waste oil from restaurants into diesel fuel to be used for property equipment.