As temperatures rise every year, the Phoenix Convention Center is ramping up programs aimed at making the center more sustainable.
This year, the convention center updated its website to include a “sustainability dashboard,” a page on the center’s website that measures several data sets each month, including water and energy consumption and the amount of items recycled. This dashboard aims to catch areas where the center is consuming more than it should and quickly correct any potential issues, according to Bentley.”
In 2023, the center upgraded its lighting systems to more eco-friendly LED technology. The upgrade to their lighting system is estimated to save the center $12 million over the next 20 years, according to Assistant Director Bob Fingerman. The upgrade to their lighting system is estimated to save the center $12 million over the next 20 years, according to Fingerman.
Other initiatives the center is pursuing include an emphasis on sustainable materials, such as seating made from recycled car batteries and seatbelts and switching to non-disposable products in its food hall.
“We’re ahead of the game when it comes to sustainability,” Fingerman said. “We always want to be two steps ahead of everyone else.
Additionally, the center is building a Monarch butterfly pollination garden, a conservation effort for the declining Monarch butterfly population. The gardens, which will be installed in fall of this year, will be located outside of the Symphony Hall and in the center’s North building. Monarch butterflies, which face a decline in their natural environments due to human activities,
“It’s one of those things that’s easy to accommodate that makes a big splash and it’s very helpful to the region,” Fingerman said.
The convention center’s focus on sustainability is being led by Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego, who unveiled a climate action plan among other environmental programs in 2022.
These initiatives come during a new record for heat in Phoenix. According to the National Weather Service, Phoenix experienced over 110 consecutive days with temperatures exceeding 100 degrees, beating the previous record last year.
With nearly a million square feet between its buildings, the Phoenix Convention Center consumes a lot of energy and produces a lot of waste, according to Sustainability Coordinator Sarah Bentley.
“My role is about finding unique ways to mitigate that, to raise awareness and sustainability to our attendees externally and our staff internally,” Bentley said. “And to mix those initiatives together to try to improve the local economy, but also to make sure that our consumption and CO2 emissions are decreasing.”
While these initiatives are often just a drop in the bucket against Arizona’s environmental issues, they send an important message that Phoenix is taking action to pave the way in sustainability. With the sustainability dashboard, the center hopes to continue its mission of reducing its carbon footprint and making sure that eco-friendly measures stay at the forefront of the center’s future projects.
Edited by Shi Bradley
