Shopping Center Is First To Earn New U.S. Green Building Standard

The new standard, BREEAM USA In-Use, measures and monitors environmental performance of existing buildings.

The Oaks, a shopping center located in Thousand Oaks, CA and owned by Macerich, is the first in the United States to earn the new BREEAM USA In-Use certified green building standard.

green building standard
The Oaks, Macerich’s 1.3 million square-foot property anchored by Nordstrom, Macy’s, JC Penney and Muvico Theatres.

The Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) rating system has a 25-year track record of driving efficiency improvements in new and existing buildings around the world. The BREEAM USA In-Use standard, administered by BRE America, is designed to address the 5.6 million pre-existing non-residential structures in the U.S. that are not currently able to benchmark sustainability efforts using a scientifically-based green building certification.

“Macerich is a proven industry leader in sustainability, not only when it comes to new buildings, but also in terms of how we update, modernize, and operate our well-placed established retail properties in top markets,” said Jeff Bedell, Vice President, Sustainability, Macerich. “Measuring existing projects against strong environmental standards, such as BREEAM, confirms our integrated sustainability efforts are delivering results at the highest levels.”

In partnership with Macerich, building auditor Healthy Buildings implemented the BREEAM In-Use standard at The Oaks, a 1.3 million square-foot property anchored by Nordstrom, Macy’s, JC Penney, and Muvico Theatres. The Oaks, originally built in 1978 with renovations in 1993 and 2007, incorporates a wide range of environmental upgrades including:

  • 6,000 solar panels producing 1,652 kW of power
  • LED Lighting with control protocols to minimize energy consumption and lower carbon footprint without any impact on shopping experience
  • Upgraded HVAC system minimizes energy usage
  • More than 500 tons of mixed recycling every year
  • Integrated thermal controls in the common areas and mall offices regulated to save energy while providing a comfortable work environment

“With its clear dedication to sustainability in commercial real estate, it makes perfect sense that Macerich would have the first BREEAM USA In-Use certified building in the United States,” said BRE America CEO Barry Giles. “We look forward to bringing the BREEAM USA In-Use registration and certification to properties across the country, because any building, no matter the size, age or performance level benefits greatly from measuring and monitoring its environmental performance.”