Calif. shopping center is first to earn BREEAM USA In-Use certification

The Oaks, a shopping center in Thousand Oaks, Calif., is the first property to earn certification of the new BREEAM USA In-Use standard certification.

Administered by BRE America, the new standard is an offshoot of the Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology (BREEAM) rating system, which has been used in the U.K. for more than 25 years. The Oaks is a 1.3 million sf property anchored by Nordstrom, Macy’s, JC Penney, and Muvico Theatres.

The Oaks was built in 1978, and had renovations in 1993 and 2007. Environmental upgrades have included: 

• 6,000 solar panels producing 1,652 kW of power
• LED Lighting with control protocols
• Upgraded HVAC system that minimizes energy usage
• More than 500 tons of mixed recycling every yearIntegrated thermal controls in the common areas and mall offices regulated to save energy while providing a comfortable work environment