At Salsa Patrimonio we have evolved seeking a development that satisfies the needs of the present, without compromising those of future generations, leading this transformation our El Ingenio shopping center, where sustainability and commitment to the environment is a transformative priority for the purpose of a minor more responsible environmental impact.
For a few years now, the incorporation of energy efficiency, green areas, recycling points, the use of LED lights or parking spaces with electric charging points are examples that have become everyday in shopping centers and that for the consumer are added values very considerate.
Shopping centers within cities, and as buildings, have impacts on the environment, therefore, it is essential to take into account the urban and social space that surrounds them, since they not only impact the commercial and leisure offer of a city, but also in the homes in the area and its services, local authorities, spaces for culture, green areas, etc.
Salsa Patrimonio, over the last few years, has incorporated improvements in El Ingenio shopping center, always with the aim of being more sustainable and respectful of the environment, contributing to the well-being of the environment in general and the town where it is located, Vélez- Málaga.
With this firm commitment to sustainability acquired, an ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) Plan has been developed to continue adding good practices. Our work in this matter is aligned with the SDGs, establishing planning so that each year we can have a more positive impact on our environment.
Likewise, in March 2023, El Ingenio achieved the BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Methodology) Certification with the rating of “Very Good”. This is the most technically advanced and world-leading method of evaluation and certification of sustainability in buildings, promoting a more sustainable construction that has an impact on savings, health and environmental quality benefits for all people linked to the life of the building, time that transfers Corporate Social Responsibility from the company to society.
El Ingenio has a photovoltaic installation that allows it to generate around 28% of the annual energy it consumes. This own energy production avoids the emission of approximately 200 tons of CO₂ per year. The Energy Rating of the building is A with an electrical energy production of 61.4 Kw h/m² year and it has a carbon footprint of 10.40 Kg CO₂ /m² year.
In addition, it has efficient facilities for the optimization of resources such as LED lighting, programming of air conditioning and ventilation schedules, carrying out all the relevant maintenance for the optimization and efficient management of resources.
We currently have 6 electric vehicle chargers, and this year 2024 the figure will reach 30. Likewise, charging points for electric scooters and bicycles will be installed.
In terms of waste and recycling, we focus our policy both on favoring the management of the commercial premises themselves in the separation of waste as organic, and in the recycling of plastic, cardboard, glass, hangers, containers… as well as for visitors who will find trash cans for different types of waste at many points inside and outside the shopping center. During the last year, 198.9 tons of cardboard, 17.39 tons of plastics and 1.8 tons of glass have been recycled.
Another of our sustainability policy involves making responsible use of a resource as precious as water. We have dry urinals, taps and cisterns with infrared sensors and we constantly check all installations to prevent water leaks. This policy has not been implemented now that the persistent drought is gripping our province, but has been installed and replaced since the opening of the shopping center.
Regarding air quality, we carry out annual analyzes and have filtration systems to guarantee a healthy environment and optimal air quality for visitors and workers at the center.
Within the framework of action on biodiversity, our outdoor gardens and green wall have been made up mainly of native vegetation, limiting the use of harmful chemicals, seeking the conducive balance of life and the harmonious development of nature, among the last interventions have been carried out on the slope adjacent to the A-7 highway, recovering a degraded space with its revegetation giving uniformity to the terrain.
In short, one of the great objectives of Salsa Patrimony as the owner of the El Ingenio shopping center is to continue advancing in terms of sustainability and work aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals in 2024.
