Regency Centers Selected by Department of Energy to Pilot Energy-Saving Technologies

Regency Centers has been selected to participate in the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative (CBI) as a National Account. The project is designed to improve the energy efficiency of commercial buildings.

Mark Peternell, Regency Centers VP of sustainability, said the company was chosen among 21 companies in retail, finance and commercial real estate to team with two of DOE’s National Laboratories to speed market adoption of current energy-saving technologies and produce buildings with significant and measurable energy savings.

Several of the largest national retailers, and key tenants in Regency Centers’ shopping centers, were also among the 21 companies announced to take part in DOE’s National Accounts program, including Target, Best Buy, J.C. Penney and Whole Foods Market.

“We are honored to be working with DOE-program partners in developing cutting-edge energy-efficiency technologies and on-site renewable-energy generation,” said Peternell. “We hope to help shape sustainability practices in our industry and define cost-effective solutions to accelerate the adoption of energy-efficient retail buildings. Partnering with the DOE through their National Accounts program is the right thing to do and it will provide a measurable benefit to our retail partners in the form of lower electricity bills.”

According to Peternell, Regency Centers formally announced its plans to incorporate sustainable elements into its new developments, operating properties and corporate operations in 2007. Since then, the company has started a variety of programs designed to mitigate, where practicable, Regency’s impact on the environment.

In addition to participating in this DOE initiative, Regency Centers has selected the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification as a nationally recognized third-party sustainability benchmarking program. Regency’s corporate initiative includes a commitment to LEED-certify a minimum of 20% of 2008 development starts, 40% of 2009’s starts and 60% of 2010 development starts.