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State's largest real estate development company partners with EPA to cut water and energy usage

BY JOE TYRRELL

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Hartz Mountain Industries has joined a growing group of New Jersey businesses and institutions partnering with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to cut water and energy usage.

For the state's largest real estate development company, the new agreement reflects steps already under way at some of its major properties with its own green buildings and sustainability initiative.

The EPA estimates buildings account for 39 percent of energy use and 38 percent of carbon dioxide emissions. Since 2006, Hartz Mountain has been trying to conserve energy and reduce waste in its own operations.

"Constructing and operating buildings more sustainably are becoming standard business practices, and developers like Hartz Mountain are seeing that protecting the environment is also good for their bottom lines," said Judith Enck, EPA regional administrator.

Last year, Secaucus-based Hartz installed solar panels on the 65,000 square foot roof of the Meadowlands Exhibition Center. Funded through PSE&G's solar loan program, the array generates 470,000 kilowatt hours, supplying 40 percent of the building's electricity.

Hartz followed that with four more roof installations, enough to bring its annual solar power output to almost 4 million kilowatt hours. The company says it has also changed its building design and materials specifications, and expects coming projects to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards.

EPA has a wide range of programs, such as Energy Star to cut energy use and Waste Wise to increase recycling, and "much of that we're already doing," said Curt Michael, Hartz vice president and general counsel.

But the department also "has suggested a few things that we haven't done before, such as using coal combustion products in concrete mixtures, and engine idling limits on vehicles," he said.

Echoing Enck, Michael said the company's willingness to embrace greener operation procedures reflects its own operating considerations and a growing acceptance in the marketplace.

"Forward-thinking tenants are looking at buildings that embrace green technologies," such as solar power, low-flow water fixtures and energy management systems for heating and cooling, he said. Where this reduces operating costs, "landlords are able to pass these savings along to tenants," he said.

"We find many of our tenants are very accepting and supportive and looking forward" to retrofitting older buildings or trying new construction with those features, Michael said.

The measures extend to encouraging conservation by guests at Hartz hotels, the Weehawken Sheraton Suites and the Soho Gran and Tribeca Grand in New York.

Under the new agreement, Hartz will report annually to the EPA on its steps under the various programs, and the department will estimate the environmental benefits. Hartz already keeps track of energy usage and other costs, and highlights the benefits of solar power and other programs on its website.

EPA estimates the company's existing solar arrays prevent the emission of about 25 metric tons of carbon dioxide a year from fossil fuel sources.

In recent years, the department reached agreement with the Giants and Jets for operations at the Meadowlands; real estate giant Cushman & Wakefield; Rutgers University; Monmouth University; Montclair State and Raritan Valley Community College.

Joe Tyrrell may be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it