Shopping Centers Today is the news magazine of the International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC)
Issue link: https://sct.epubxp.com/i/753030
D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 6 / S C T 91 Because water, unlike energy, is a finite commodity, the wa- ter-shortage problem is only likely to worsen, observers say. The cost of water has climbed by 48 percent in the U.S. since 2010, according to a survey of 30 major cities done by Circle of Blue, a network of environmental sustainability scientists and jour- nalists. In Atlanta, where 19th-century water infrastructure is being completely rebuilt, rates have tripled, says Michael Sloup, CEO of Boca Raton, Fla.–based American Water & Energy Savers, which caters primarily to retail center clients. "Not surprisingly, people are becoming a lot more aware of water conservation as the price starts to really hit their pocketbooks," Sloup said. Newport Beach, Calif.–based Irvine Co. tries to stay ahead of the game. An industry sustainability pioneer, the firm's 40-plus retail properties save upwards of 113 million gallons of potable water annually by interconnecting various water-saving gizmos and processes. Irvine Co. custom-irrigates its centers according to weather conditions and individual plants and soil types. It also uses master valves that shut off water whenever flow sen- sors detect a leak. Its drip or low-flow irrigation systems ap- ply water slowly into the soil, unlike conventional sprinklers, which tend to overspray and are more prone to evaporation. The firm, which owns Fashion Island (in Newport Beach) and Spec- trum Center and The Market Place (both in Irvine), uses recy- cled water wherever practical. In fact, Spectrum Center has >> Sustainable cacti and succulents decorate The Channel Garden, in New York City's Rockefeller Center