Committed to the Planet

CrossIron Mills is committed to mitigating our impact on the environment. Throughout our history, we have paid keen attention to lessening our footprint in the following ways:

Ongoing Efforts

• Water Efficiency:
  • CrossIron Mills uses rainwater to irrigate all of it’s landscaping. Over 620.000 sq/ft of landscaped area has been irrigated by our 3 storm management cisterns that can harvest up to 1 million litres of rainwater at a time.
  • All of the 79 toilets and 55 faucets in the centre are equipped with low-flow technology, which significantly reduces our water consumption.
• Resource Efficiency:
  • CrossIron Mills has a white membrane roof which reflects heat and reduces interior cooling requirements.
  • In 2022, we re-lamped all of our interior and exterior lights with LED fixtures and installed occupancy sensors in low-traffic services areas to automatically switch lighting off after area has been unoccupied for a period of time. These changes have reduced our lighting energy consumption by 70%!
• Waste Reduction:
  • Over 60% of our waste is diverted from the landfill by way of recycling cans, cardboard and plastics throughout the mall. We also have an organics
    recycling program at the centre, which has diverted over 130 metric tonnes of material from the landfill.
  • We have implemented waste & recycling programs for our tenants in order to capture recyclable materials and keep as much waste out of landfills as possible. We collect and recycle items such as electronics, batteries, light bulbs, ink cartridges, scrap metals and hangers for our stores. For our partners that serve food, we offer cooking oil disposal and recycling.
• Other Initiatives:
  • We have implemented a Green Cleaning Program to protect our healthy indoor environment through the elimination of harmful chemicals. Our cleaning staff uses environmentally responsible cleaning products and EcoLogo certified hand soap/toilet paper in public washrooms.
  • For the past two and a half years, CrossIron Mills has partnered with Alvéole to host a colony of bees on the property. Our hives help build a legacy
    for future generations. Bees play a major role in fruit, vegetable, and nut production: about a third of what we eat relies on their pollination.

Development Decisions

Prior to opening, the following development decisions and investments were made to lessen our impact:

• In the spring of 2008, 6 to 10 million gallons of rainwater per week were pumped off the site into temporary holding areas before being released back into Nose Creek after construction was complete.
• A 120-foot steel girder built in 1963 for the Glenmore bridge was recycled in the construction of the Highway 566 bridge widening over Nose Creek.
• 41 acres of storm water management ponds have been constructed to manage storm water quality and quantity.

Future Initiatives

CrossIron Mills is always on the lookout for the next opportunity to create a more sustainable future. Some projects that we are looking forward to exploring in the coming years include…

•  Increased organics recycling
• Exploring opportunities for Solar power
• Increased Electric vehicle charging

Building Certifications

• BOMA Best Silver
• LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver 2017 (Food Hall redevelopment)

Our commitment to community and to the environment is ongoing, and organic. We are always investigating several community based programs and initiatives that will reflect our core values and beliefs – and those of the community we call home.