The New Hyde Park, N.Y.–based company also reduced water consumption by about 7.5 percent, saving some 67.3 million gallons of water.
These are just two highlights of the report, which covers a range of issues, including sustainability, corporate transparency, charitable giving and community volunteering. Kimco employees spent 389 hours volunteering in 2014 through the company’s Community Connection program, which in the past has assisted with disaster relief, home building and youth mentoring, among other activities.
Some programs are designed to benefit employees themselves. Eighty-three percent of Kimco’s workforce enrolled in the company’s Global Corporate Challenge, a 100-day program designed to promote physical activity and fitness.
Employees are also coached in ethics and Kimco’s Code of Conduct, which among other things teaches them about compliance with the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act.
Kimco invested $2 million in 2014 on 162 projects across its portfolio designed to enhance sustainability. Since launching a program in 2011 to shut off lighting when not needed, it has cut energy consumption by 18 percent. Kimco is also retrofitting lighting throughout its portfolio, and by the end of this year will have upgraded 100 properties, at a cost of more than $8 million.
Other measures are also making significant contributions to the company’s sustainability, such as reflective roofing and solar electricity generation; electric car rechargers; landscape plants that need little water and sophisticated irrigation technology; and better waste management, whereby 19 percent of discarded material is being diverted away from landfills.
All data relating to energy, water, waste and greenhouse gas emissions are verified by third parties.
"We’re proud of the progress made over the past several years,” said William Teichman, Kimco’s senior director of strategic operations.