Belmar is an extraordinary example of the conversion of a dying regional mall (the former Villa Italia) into a true urban downtown district for a suburban community. It is one of the most complete integrations of retail, employment, residential and civic/cultural uses in the country. It is a contemporary place that is rooted in the principles of good urbanism. It incorporates a variety of green building and sustainable design elements. Belmar has provided more than a development solution to what to do with a dying mall or the need for better retail services, housing options and office environments. It has provided a vehicle for creating a much stronger sense of place, community and identity for the City of Lakewood and the entire west side of the Denver metropolitan area. It also serves as a national model both for addressing the challenges of dying regional malls as well as demonstrating the market viability of a number of sustainable development and smart growth principles.
Belmar is dedicated to energy-use reduction and the responsible use of limited natural resources. Here are some of the many ways that Belmar works torwards sustainability.
Solar Power
This question is in many of our thoughts throughout the day. By doing simple changes each day we can all make a difference. Sustainable style is the way of the future. Here are ten tips to help you strive towards that sustainable style of life.
1. Drive less, walk more: Cut down on fuel usage. Walk to the places instead of taking your car that are close by. Think about carpooling or taking public transportation, such the buses or light-rail. The less fumes in the air the better it is for all of us.
2. Re-use, re-use, re-use: Re-use the plastic or paper bags you get every time you shop. They are good for more than one trip. Even better than re-using them, buy a "bag for life" and use that every time you shop. Composition and Whole Foods have a great assortment from which to choose.
3. Re-cycle: Do you have a recycling collection service? If not, look for a local recycling places and drop off your bottles, newspapers, cans, etc next time you are in the neighborhood or make a date each week or month for this job. No special trips though. For bigger items, if they're still usable, check out http://www.freecycle.org/ for a group near you.
4. Love your local farmers: Local produce is the best. Especially if it's bought fresh from a farmer's market or at Whole Foods Market. The big difference is in the taste. No super-sizing here. Buy what you need. It probably won't cost much more and it will stay fresh.
5. Turn it off: Turn off unused appliances off at the socket. When in standby mode, they still use energy. You will find that you have cut your fuel bills by turning off radios, computer monitor, televisions, and other items when they're not in use.
6. Keep it cool: Wash your clothes at a lower temperature. Modern detergents work just fine at the colder temperatures.
7. Turn it down: Turn down your thermostat in the colder winter months and turn up the a/c in the summer. A few degrees will not make a big difference.
8. Recycle household items: Give away your old clothes as a donation to places like Goodwill or the Salvation Army. Use rechargeable batteries. Organize a neighborhood yard sale to get rid of things you no longer want or need.
9. Water is so important: Invest in a water-saving showerhead. Take shorter baths or showers. Turn off the water when brushing your teeth.
10. Love nature: Treat our animal and bird neighbors with care. Make a bird feeder out of recyclable products, such as a milk carton. Feed the birds and help the environment at the same time!
