Recognizing that promoting workplace sustainability involves more than just improving energy and water efficiency, there is a keen focus on optimizing the health and well-being of building occupants across its portfolio. At San Felipe Plaza, that includes annual air quality testing, a green cleaning policy, integrated pest management, green tenant guide, bi-annual sustainability newsletter and e-waste recycling, a program that has seen annual participation result in collections as high as 13,643 pounds (almost seven tons).
Additional highlights range from beautifully landscaped grounds that provide a calming respite from urban life and a redesigned and expanded on-site fitness center to recalibrated culinary services that emphasize healthy menu offerings, plus programming and activities tied to stress management.
San Felipe Plaza tenants are also just steps from a popular walking trail on Tanglewood Boulevard and a short drive from nearly early 1,500-acre Memorial Park with amenities ranging from golf and swimming to tennis and fitness, along with numerous options for hiking, biking and kayaking.
Learn MoreOver the past several years, we have upgraded all of the original domestic water fixtures at all of our buildings with low-flow valves and aerators. As a next step, we have begun evaluating opportunities to improve irrigation water efficiency across our Houston portfolio.
Through our short-term and long-term capital plans, we have funded numerous multi-year projects to upgrade major HVAC equipment and overhaul aging central plants across our portfolio. In addition, we have completed major garage and common-area lighting retrofits and installed CO2 sensors and dimmable stairwell lighting at many of our properties.
Our efforts to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions (as measured in MTCO2e) go virtually hand-in-hand with our efforts to reduce energy consumption. However, we also take extra steps to reduce our GHG emissions by upgrading to environmentally preferable refrigerants whenever we upgrade our buildings’ HVAC systems.
All of our properties have had building-wide recycling programs in place for many years. However, in 2017, we began making a major push to further improve our recycling programs and optimize our overall waste management process. To that end, we recently replaced antiquated trash bins with modern trash compactors, we expanded our use of cardboard bailers, and we worked with existing janitorial teams to improve the daily waste collection and recycling processes at each property.
Over the past several years, we have upgraded all of the original domestic water fixtures at all of our buildings with low-flow valves and aerators. As a next step, we have begun evaluating opportunities to improve irrigation water efficiency across our Houston portfolio.
By obtaining the UL Verified Healthy Building Mark, we have demonstrated a commitment to the health and well-being of our building’s occupants. UL Solutions independently validates that products are measuring up to their marketing claims, including recycled content to landfill waste diversion claims. Our validation will help give both manufacturers and consumers peace of mind.