LA PALMERA HONORS EARTH MONTH YEAR-ROUND
Green initiatives incorporated into daily operations; Goodwill onsite for April 19 E-Waste Donation Drive
CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas (April 4, 2025) — April is Earth Month, with April 22 designated as Earth Day, but at La Palmera, green initiatives are standard operation 365 days a year.
From recycling, energy and water conservation, indoor air quality and more, La Palmera remains “fashionably responsible,” maintaining its green and sustainable policies and programs to improve the environment, the guest experience and the mall’s bottom line.
“Recycling and sustainability are top of mind at La Palmera as the first indoor mall to be LEED® certified by the U.S. Green Building Council in 2011,” said La Palmera General Manager Amanda Sanchez. “We are also a designated IREM® Certified Sustainable Property, recognized for green building performance efforts and working with our tenants for improved sustainability in day-to-day operations.
“Through our efforts and those of our tenants, we divert approximately 120 tons from the landfill each year through the tenant recycling program, manage water and energy savings, CO2 emissions reduction, and provide complimentary EV charging stations for our guests.”
Low-energy lighting and more efficient Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning cuts energy use by 35%. and the use of natural light, including windows and solar tubes, saves approximately 1.4 million kilowatts annually, enough to power 100 homes for an entire year. La Palmera uses roughly 46% less water than malls of similar size, including low-flow toilets and faucets reducing daily usage by nearly 3,000 gallons, and the Center Court fountain re-circulating 1,000 gallons of water approximately 28 times a day. Water is also saved through the landscape use of native and adapted plants, drip irrigation for all areas except lawns, and automated controllers with rain and freeze sensors, resulting in approximately 50% less water for irrigation than similar-sized developments. La Palmera has worked to improve the air quality for guests and employees with an Indoor Air Quality Management Plan that includes a smoke-free environment and the use of low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and materials such as paints, adhesives, sealants, and carpets.
In addition to tenants working with La Palmera on recycling, several have their own green initiatives, including H&M, lululemon and Lush, as well as the mall’s P.F. Chang’s which received LEED® Gold certification for Commercial Interiors for its use of sustainable materials in building the restaurant, the first P.F. Chang’s location to receive LEED® certification.
In keeping with its commitment to the environment, and our community partners, La Palmera is teaming up with Goodwill Industries of South Texas to host their annual E-Waste Donation Drive on Saturday, April 19, from 9 a.m.–6 p.m. in the mall parking area behind Dillard’s.
Electronic items accepted include desktops, laptops, tablets, monitors, cell phones, personal printers and scanners, hard drives, keyboards, cords and cables, mice, speakers, webcams and software. Those wishing to drop off are asked to enter and exit the parking area adjacent to the parking garage off McArdle Road. Businesses that may have a larger load of equipment can conveniently reserve an arrival time through Goodwill and the crew will unload the vehicle or truck.
In 2024, Goodwill collected and diverted more than 105 tons of toxic e-waste from local landfills, safely recycling it through their Dell Reconnect partnership. This year, collaborating with La Palmera, the goal is to double the amount collected.
Like all donations received, equipment dropped off through the e-waste recycling program helps fund Goodwill’s many programs, including free job training and placement for people with disabilities, Veterans and their families, those previously incarcerated, or with other barriers to employment. In the past five years, more than 27,500 have rejoined the South Texas workforce as a result.
“La Palmera is committed to partnering with local organizations and is pleased to assist Goodwill in making this project a success to help residents in our community,” said Sanchez.
For more event information, go to goodwillsouthtexas.com. For more information on La Palmera, go to lapalmera.com, follow us on Facebook, or call (361) 991-3755.