Los Angeles Convention Center Green Initiatives

Located in Downtown L.A., the Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC) attracts millions of visitors annually and is world-renowned as a prime site for conventions, trade shows and exhibitions. Environmental sustainability has been at the forefront of the AEG Facilities’ managed venue, resulting in a LEED-EB Gold certification from the United States Green Building Council.

The LACC installs new technologies and implements operational best practices to reduce energy and water usage, as well as the amount of waste generated. The LACC also works to educate its clients, guests and staff about environmental issues and encourages them to engage in sustainable practices.

Following are highlights of the LACC’s eco-friendly practices and its water conservation efforts during the current California drought.

Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy

• Solar generation plants, which feed renewable energy back to the local grid
• Energy-efficient lighting, including LED and CFL technology
• Saving Power Energy Management System, which manages and reduces energy consumption throughout the building
• A “cool roof” and light defusing windows, which reflect sunlight and heat away from the building
• Upgraded exhibit hall doors, which prevent air conditioning from leaking into unused areas
• Low NOx and CO2 emission steam boilers

Water

• 190 low-flush urinals, which conserve more than 1,000,000 gallons of water annually
• Water-efficient kitchen dishwashers, which save close to 630,000 gallons of water annually
• Chemical-free water treatment technology

Waste and Recycling

• Recycling of glass, plastic, paper, aluminum, pallets, scrap metal/steel, toner/ink cartridges, wood, cardboard, and more
• Recycling of cooking oil, which is converted into biodiesel
• Composting of food and landscape waste
• Bullet – Water-saving irrigation system

Responsible Purchasing

• Local, small business partners for on-site dining
• Local and organic food
• 100% free-range, hormone-free, grass-fed beef, turkey, pork, and chicken
• Increasing the use of china/glass/silverware to reduce single-use disposable items
• 100% cage-free eggs
• Liquid dairy is rBGH free
• Green cleaning products at the LACC

The LACC participates in AEG 1EARTH, AEG’s corporate sustainability program. The AEG 1EARTH mission is to reduce the company’s environmental impact and drive business value through sustainability. Through AEG 1EARTH, AEG identifies goals to guide company decision-making, measures and quantifies the environmental impact of its activities, and develops strategies and tools to improve the company’s overall environmental performance.

As the LACC embarks on major expansion and renovation plans, it has implemented water saving measures and technologies in response to the historic California drought. The LACC also searches for ways to reuse water whenever possible.

“Environmental sustainability is an area of critical importance for the Los Angeles Convention Center,” said Brad Gessner, SVP of AEG Facilities and General Manager of the Los Angeles Convention Center. “Water conservation is a vital facet of our environmental initiatives and we constantly seek opportunities to invest in sustainable products, technology and practices to reduce negative environmental impact.”

Victoriya Karpilovich, Marketing Specialist, Los Angeles Convention Center, AEG Facilities provided details of the LACC's water conservation efforts in an industry report.

• The LACC achieved a 7% overall reduction in water consumption in 2014 compared to 2013.
• Beginning in February 2014, LACC replaced 80% of the sprinklers located throughout the facility’s outdoor areas. The improved irrigation system features leak-preventing nozzles, which have measurably reduced water usage and waste at LACC.
• The LACC reduced irrigation by 33% compared to 2013 by introducing a new, water-saving irrigation plan consisting of separating vegetation areas into two zones.
• As part of the refined irrigation system, the LACC Operations team is also monitoring irrigation meters on a weekly basis to ensure a timely response to any excessive water use or waste and to mitigate any issues before they arise. Project leaders have found that such precise monitoring will contribute to the LACC’s on-going effort to lead the convention center industry in environmental sustainability, a vital facet of the LACC’s commitment to excellence.
• Water conservation efforts also include updating the fire pump systems. The LACC West Hall jockey pump was replaced with a mechanical seal pump, which has zero water loss emission.
• The LACC is in the process of reducing its landscaping area by 30,000 square feet and replacing it with drought-resistant plants.
• The LACC has an upcoming project to retrofit existing toilets with low-flush technology.

Following the Southern California Volleyball Association (SCVA) 2015 Girls Junior National Qualifier competition (April 11-13 and April 17-19), thousands of gallons of water were left over from their setup. The LACC teamed up with a local organization, the Korean Youth and Community Center (KYCC), which is part of Green LA and plants an average of 1,000 trees annually. LACC and KYCC shared the water and reused a total of 6,000 gallons (about 1/3 of total water used by the show) across both weekends. LACC used the water for scrubbers, pressure washers and specific deep-tree watering. KYCC used their water for parkway tree watering and pressure washers for graffiti removal.