Kermit The Frog on Sesame Street once famously croaked “It’s not easy being green.” Now it’s easier than ever to “go green ” as individuals and companies have learned to use fewer resources, create less waste and use smarter, more efficient and less toxic products and services.
For example, Malibu Country Mart’s commercial resource management team has an on-going Green Initiative Program. Their latest milestone and progress towards LEED certification (LEED = Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the LED lighting retrofit of the driveway and parking lot fixtures.
They replaced metal halide lighting in the parking lot with dual LED units by DSA Lighting. Good move because the new parking lot LED fixtures use 80% less energy.
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In the driveway from Howdy’s to the back lot the old metal halide lights were replaced with advanced Visionaire Lighting LED fixtures that cut energy consumption by 66%. Both the new driveway and parking lot lights are full cut off “Dark Sky Friendly” which means light is carefully directed downward.
Here’s a short video I produced about the retrofit: https://vimeo.com/79364969
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My friend Julie Labin, Director of Sustainability for the Malibu Country Mart, told me “Now that LED technology is more readily available, I believe it will be here to stay. We are also working with our tenants center-wide in going LED, furthering our goal of using the least amount of energy possible.”
The Country Mart crew recycled all the replaced poles and lighting fixtures. Jose Rodriguez, Construction Manager at Koss Real Estate, said: “The new LED fixtures’ light quality is better, the engineering is improved so the light along the walkway is more even, and of course the energy savings is great which was the main goal.”
Michael Koss, General Partner of the Malibu Country Mart remarked: “These reduced energy numbers support my position that green technology and commercial property management go hand in hand. It is our mission to have as little of a footprint as possible, so going LED was a natural choice.” Right on, Michael! I think Malibu is rapidly earning the reputation of being one of the “Greenest” cities on the West Coast.
Participants in the LED lighting retrofit include: DSA Lighting - Alex Greer; Advantage Lighting Solutions - Bill Hein; Partner Energy - LEED Architects Lance Collins and Melissa Gutierrez Sullivan; Lightcraft- Bruce Dennis.
The Country Mart’s Green Initiative Program includes drought-tolerant landscaping using native vegetation; water-saving drip irrigation; using no dangerous pesticides or maintenance chemicals; and the first of several free EV charging stations. To learn more, contact Julie Labin at jlabin@kossfinancial.com or visit http://www.malibucountrymart.com/sustainability
Have a “Green Day,” Malibu. Kermit would be proud!
