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The report summarizes the Center’s commitment to sustainability and highlights key facts and figures
PHILADELPHIA – To celebrate Earth Day, The Pennsylvania Convention Center today released its annual sustainability report. The document summarizes the Center’s efforts to be an industry leader in environmental program implementation and stewardship and highlights key facts and figures. This report is used as an annual benchmark to evaluate ongoing sustainability efforts.
“2020 was a unique year but through the challenges and change, our commitment to sustainability never wavered. The facilities team at the Center was able to accelerate project timelines due to unoccupied building spaces, allowing us to prepare for a safe reopening with improved energy, lighting, and water operations throughout the facility,” said Gregory J. Fox, Esq., Chairman of the Board of the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority (PCCA). “In partnership with ASM Global, the Center continues to prioritize using technology to ‘go green’ in our effort to sustain the Commonwealth’s investment for future generations.”
The 2020 Sustainability Report highlights the fact that the Center recycled 79.74 tons of construction and demolition materials, 29.55 tons of E-waste, and 17.29 tons of carpet from projects. As part of the Demand Response Program, the Center also reduced 12,526 kWh in 2020 which is the equivalent of 8.9 metric tons or 21,976 miles driven by car. In partnership with SIEMENS, the Pennsylvania Convention Center began the Energy Services Conservation Services (ESCO) project which is projected to reduce energy and electricity usage at the Center by more than 6 million kilowatts per year.
“I’m proud of our team and the progress we’ve made in energy efficiency and sustainability during such a unique year,” said Janet Mitrocsak, ASM Global Director of Facilities at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. “We were able to think critically and creatively about pre-planned improvements but also what practices needed to be put in place to meet customer needs and exceed their expectations as we planned for a safe reopening.”
“Despite less foot traffic at the Center this year, our team remained focused on reducing energy consumption and waste wherever possible,” said Steve Shepper, Director of Engineering and Capital Projects at the Pennsylvania Convention Center. “In addition to significant investments made in prioritizing sustainability, we also heightened our focus on customer, visitor, and staff safety by installing escalator handrail sterilization technology and bi-polar ionization for air filtration.”
The Center hosted four sustainable events in 2020 prior to COVID-19 stay-at-home orders going into effect. The facility worked with the individual planners of HiJinx, the American Library Association’s Midwinter Meeting, the Philadelphia Auto Show, and the Philadelphia Flower Show to focus on environmentally responsible decision-making throughout the planning, organization and implementation stages of these events.
“Last year marked five years of our Green Team, a group comprised of Convention Center staff, stakeholders, and service partners. The Green Team has improved and broadened the ASM Global Sustainability Best Practices and served as a resource to guide efficiency and behavior,” said Kelvin D. Moore, ASM Global Regional General Manager. “Customers consistently select the Pennsylvania Convention Center based on our sustainability efforts and we pride ourselves on our ability to focus on customer service while also partnering with meeting organizers to deliver green meetings with tangible results.”
The 2020 Sustainability Report can be found on the Pennsylvania Convention Center’s website, click here.
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