Abercorn Common in Savannah, Georgia is USA's first shopping center to get prestigious environmental certification, Earth Friendly Shopping Center

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Abercorn Common is USA's first shopping center to get prestigious environmental certification

(SAVANNAH, GA) This spring, Savannah can boast that it is first.

Savannah is ahead of California and other environmentally forward communities in one respect: Abercorn Common is the first shopping center in the USA to receive the prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)Core and Shell certification. LEED is the nationally-recognized standard for high performance healthy buildings.

Abercorn Common is Melaver Inc.'s third LEED project in Savannah, and involved major renovation and expansion of the shopping center located at the intersection of Abercorn Street and White Bluff Road. The goal of the project is to create a dynamic, high-performance, healthy environment to work and shop in. Innovative features include reducing energy use 30%, water use 50%, preventing 6,000 tons of construction waste from reaching landfills, and harvesting 5.5 million gallons of rainwater to use for irrigation. LEED is a green building rating system established by the U.S. Green Building Council.

Melaver Inc. is a third-generation, family business devoted to commercial real estate: office, retail, showroom, and warehousing. Melaver was recently awarded the first LEED certification in Savannah for their historic renovation of the Whitaker Building, located on the corner of State Street and Whitaker Street.

Key sustainable features of Abercorn Common:

* All irrigation uses rainwater that has been harvested off the roofs of the buildings and

stored in a large cistern behind the center. This saves 5.5 million gallons of water a year.

* A tight building envelope, high-efficiency light fixtures and HVAC equipment,

efficient glazing, and a highly-reflective white roof help reduce electricity consumption by more than 30 percent.

* 85 percent of all construction debris, totaling more than 6,000 tons of material, was kept out of the landfill through recycling or reuse.

* Low volatile organic compound (VOC) paints, sealants and adhesives were used throughout the project, improving indoor air quality.

* High efficiency HVAC units ensure healthy levels of outside air and moisture control.

* Porous pavement in the parking lots, which allows water to naturally percolate into the ground, reduces stormwater runoff volumes by over 30 percent and reduces local neighborhood flooding.

* Materials were selected that have high recycled material content and that are manufactured within a 500-mile radius of the project site.

* Water-efficient plumbing units such as waterless urinals and ultra-low flow fixtures have reduced water use by more than 50 percent.

* Preferred parking spaces are provided for shoppers driving hybrid vehicles. As a driving alternative, the center is located within 1/4 mile of 3 different bus lines. Bike racks and showers are provided for tenants.

Retail tenants include Books-A-Million, Circuit City, F.P. Wortley Jewelers, Grand Harbour Imports, Home Goods, Locos Grill & Pub, McDonald's, Michael's, Oreck Home Care, Panera Bread, Smoothie King, The Riitz Salon and Wild Birds Unlimited.

More on Melaver, Inc.: Isidor and Annie Levy Melaver opened a small grocery store in Savannah on the corner of Mercer St. and Hall St. in 1940. Over the next four decades, the business developed into M&M Supermarkets, which became a regional chain in southeast Georgia. In 1985 the business was sold to Kroger, and Melaver, Inc. turned its attention to its real estate holdings.

For more information, see www.melaver.com
www.abercorncommon.com

The main offices of Melaver, Inc. are located at
114 Barnard Street, Suite 2B, Savannah, GA 31401. Phone: 912.236.0781

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Marjorie Young, President
912-844-9990 in Savannah, Georgia