CHAPTER 10

Sustainability

In the last 20 years, convention center sustainability has developed rapidly from a soft staff function into a required line function with measurable objectives. Sustainability is now fully integrated into facility operations, event services, procurement, and sales and marketing. Indeed the relationship between sustainability performance and financial and economic performance has become tangible and well grounded. Sustainability programs have produced substantial reductions in energy expenses and waste hauling costs. The most substantial advance has been the introduction of high bay light-emitting diode (LED) lighting.

Sustainability has become an important marketing element as more event organizers and exhibitors demand strong sustainability and environmentally sensitive building functions and service offerings. An increasing number of centers have acquired several of the many recognized certifications for environmental and energy sustainability. Sustainability has become a competitive differentiator among venues and a lead element in a center’s brand value.

A well-designed sustainability program compels the measurement of things and accountability for results. Sustainability as a serious business policy has to be part of running a successful convention center. As a relatively new means of measuring performance, sustainability KPIs will be questioned more than other aspects of the center’s business. These KPIs are also more complex than others with a variety of units of measure influenced by many variables, like weather and the volume of business activity. Additionally, the topic itself has corporate governance as well as social and political implications.

There are reliable industry benchmarks where performance can be measured against calculated averages. See https://greenview.sg/green-venue/; it’s an excellent reference.

KPI: Energy Use Per Event and Facility Gross Square Footage

Owner	Facilities Department or the center’s Sustainability Manager
Data Sources and Collection	Energy use can be obtained from the Facility Department or Sustainability Manager. The number of events can be obtained from the Sales Department.
Reporting Frequency	Quarterly

Why This KPI Is Useful

This KPI roughly measures energy efficiency based on number of events and total facility square footage. It is not as accurate as measuring based on GSF Rented nor does it correct for weather variations. This KPI is useful because it can be compared to industry benchmarks, which are based on the number of events and the facility square footage.

Objective

Gradual efficiency improvements and cost reductions due to disciplined operating practices and energy efficient investments.

Managing Unfavorable Conclusions and Inferences

Do not over-react until causes can be explained for energy use increases. It could well be an increase in business activity or unusually cold or hot weather. Review “KPI: Energy Use Per KGSF Rented, Corrected for Weather.”

How to Calculate and/or Organize Data

Simply divide the energy use by the number of events and again by the total facility square footage.

Presentation Notes and Formats

Tables, bar graphs, or both, comparing current YTD, previous YTD and business plan.

KPI: Energy Use Per KGSF Rented, Corrected for Weather

Owner	Facilities Department or the center’s Sustainability Manager
Data Sources and Collection	It will be difficult to start but become routine once collection methods are standardized. The Facilities Dept. will provide quarterly consumption and costs. Cooling degree days (CDD) and heating degree days (HDD) data can be obtained from the local weather service. Several other sources are available online. Be cautious about the location source of CDD and HDD data. Finding a data collection location close to the convention center is important because of wide differences from micro-climatic influences. Consider the temperature differences (often 10 degrees or more) between downtown San Diego and a location 10 miles east. KGSF can be obtained from the Sales Dept.
Reporting Frequency	Quarterly

Why This KPI Is Useful

This KPI measures the efficiency of electricity and natural gas use. It is a productivity or efficiency indicator based on two variables.

Space heating and cooling costs are the largest energy expenses for a convention center. The HVAC systems and equipment used undergo the most wear and tear of any facility equipment. Naturally they require the most maintenance. Operationally it’s easy to waste energy with these systems without a disciplined schedule or by neglecting PM. Routine measurement and tracking of energy use is fundamental to achieve energy efficiency and therefore savings and costs avoided. If there is a sustainability program in place, know that it is not uncommon for energy use to increase as business activity increases and also as the outside air temperatures go way above or below the baseline year. This KPI normalizes energy use. It adjusts for the effects of outside air temperature and the volume and intensity of business activity based on GSF Rented. In short, normalized energy use is a required metric in order to obtain the most accurate assessment of a convention center’s energy efficiency.

Objective

Gradual efficiency improvements based on business activity and cost reduction or avoided due to disciplined operating practices and energy efficient investments.

Managing Unfavorable Conclusions and Inferences

If energy use and costs per KGSF continues to increase with no obvious explanation, it’s time to thoroughly review your plant operation:

How to Calculate and/or Organize Data

Work Sheets 10.1 and 10.1a calculate energy efficiency of a current year vs. a baseline year.

BASELINE YEAR ENERGY
ELECTRIC	KWH	KGSF Sold	KWH/KGSF Rented	Baseline CDD	KWH/CDD
1st Qtr.	966,667	5838	165.6	0	0
2nd Qtr.	1,302,754	6436	202.4	595	2190
3rd Qtr.	1,417,908	5281	268.5	1,380	1027
4th Qtr.	1,333,353	5470	243.8	310	4301
TOTAL	5,020,682	23,025	218.1
NATURAL GAS	THERMS	KGSF Sold	THERMS/KGSF Rented	Baseline HDD	THERMS/HDD
1st Qtr.	140,435	5,838	24.05	2110	66.56
2nd Qtr.	45,642	6,436	7.09	460	99.22
3rd Qtr.	14,000	5,281	2.65	0	-
4th Qtr.	45,590	5,470	8.33	758	60.15
TOTAL	245,667	23,025	10.67

Work Sheet 10.1 - Baseline year energy

CURRENT YEAR ENERGY – ACTUAL
ELEC.	KWH	KGSF Rented	KWH / KGSF R	Current CDD	KWH / CDD	CDD Difference*	KWH/CDD Difference*
1st Qtr.	1,009,766	5,984	168.7	0	0	0	0
2nd Qtr.	1,328,966	6,533	203.4	640	2077	45	5,085
3rd Qtr.	1,631,040	5,449	299.3	1510	1080	130	-6,850
4th Qtr.	1,455,445	5,525	263.4	339	4293	29	226
TOTAL	5,425,217	23,491	230.9				-1,539
NAT. GAS	THERMS	KGSF Rented	THERMS / KGSF	Current HDD	THERMS/ HDD	HDD Difference*	THERMS/ HDD Difference*
1st Qtr.	143,244	5,984	23.94	2321	61.7	211	1,021
2nd Qtr.	45,053	6,533	6.9	442	101.9	-18	49
3rd Qtr.	14,770	5,449	2.71	0	0	0	-
4th Qtr.	44,134	5,525	7.99	823	53.6	65	424
TOTAL	247,201	23,491	10.52				1,494

*The difference is between current and baseline years

Work Sheet 10.1a - Current year - actual

ENERGY EFFICIENCY AND COST SAVED/AVOIDED
ELEC.	KWH Savings-Efficiency	$/KWH	$ Saved	KWH Due to Changes in CDD	Avioide Costs - CDD corrected
	-302,922	$0.22	66,643	47,784	10,512
NAT. GAS	THERMS Savings - Efficiency	$/THERM	$ Saved	THERMS Due to Changes in HDD	Avoided Costs HDD corrected
	3,438	$1.25	4,298	-17,421	$21,777
			$70,940		$32,289
Total Savings due to Efficiency, corrected for weather			$103,229

Work Sheet 10.1b - Energy efficiency and cost saved/avoided

Calculation instructions:

Presentation Notes and Format

Table, bar graph, or both, comparing current YTD, previous YTD and business plan.

KPI: Percentage of Non-Green House Gas (Non-GHG) Electricity Consumed—Purchased or Generated on the Convention Center Site

Owner	Facilities Department or the center’s Sustainability Manager
Data Sources and Collection	This should be known information provided by electric suppliers (generally an annual agreement). It’s important that this information be provided monthly in the electric invoice. Electricity generation, especially from renewable sources is highly variable depending on weather conditions. If non-GHG generated electricity is produced on-site, then the Facilities Department or the Sustainability Manager will provide it based on meter readings or BMS recordings.
Reporting Frequency	Quarterly

Why This KPI Is Useful

Non-GHG electricity includes (nuclear, renewable, and storage of renewable). Nuclear energy is usually left off the list of non-GHG generated electricity sources mostly because of the high carbon footprint for mining and refining uranium and storing spent fuel. There are a variety of ways that convention centers can increase their purchase of non-GHG generated electricity; their local or regional utility has non-GHG generation or makes wholesale purchases of non-GHG electricity from elsewhere, direct purchase in the open market if in a deregulated state or on-site generation of non-GHG electricity. There are some excellent case studies of initiatives by convention centers to increase their use of electricity produced by renewable sources; the Colorado Convention Center in Denver purchases 25 percent of its electricity from a provider that generates electricity through wind; the Atlantic City Convention Center generates between 25 percent and 30 percent of its electricity through a 2.8 MW on-site array of solar panels. There are many other case studies, all very positive.

Objective

Purchase or generate on-site as much non-GHG electricity as affordable.

Managing Unfavorable Conclusions and Inferences

Without capital or financial incentives to install non-GHG generation stations on-site, the best method is to gradually purchase as much non-GHG generated electricity as practical and affordable.

How to Calculate and/or Organize Data

No calculation is necessary if purchased from providers. For on-site non-GHG generation or storage, calculate the difference between GHG purchased electricity, and the non-GHG on-site generated electricity.

Presentation Notes and Format

Table, bar graph, pie chart, or ring chart, comparing current YTD, previous YTD and business plan. Figures 10.1 and 10.1a are sample ring charts on how to present this data:

Figure 10.1 Electricity source

Figure 10.1a Non—GHG electricity sources

KPI: Amount and Percentage of Diverted Solid Waste Per Thousand GSF Rented (KGSF Rented)

Owner	Facilities Department or the center’s Sustainability Manager
Data Sources and Collection	Solid waste diverted will have to be measured by the Sustainability Manager in weight (pounds but preferably tons or fractions of tons). Total solid waste hauled to landfills or incinerators can be obtained from the waste hauler contractor bills. GSF information will be provided by the Sales Dept.
Reporting Frequency	Quarterly

Why This KPI Is Useful

This KPI measures the amount of solid waste diverted from landfills or incinerators per the center’s business activity (thousands of gross square footage rented (KGSF)). The solid waste is diverted to recycling, donations, or is composted. This KPI is expressed as a productivity metric because business activity changes each year. This permits year to year progress to be measured accurately.

Diversion of solid waste into useful causes that have strong sustainability benefits and cost savings demonstrates sustainability leadership. There is substantial potential for progress of this indicator. To gain perspective, the average conference delegate produces 61 lb of solid waste over a three-day conference (EPA, 2000)—roughly 20 lb per day. To put this in context, the average American generates about 4.5 lb per person, per day (EPA, 2003). For convention centers, methods used to reduce the solid waste weight or volume can come in several ways: regulating what exhibit display materials can be used for events, recycling building and exhibit materials, composting organic waste (food) and donating waste which can be reused for charitable organizations. As these methods are implemented, solid waste disposal costs will decrease and centers will more than fulfill their social responsibility. The “gold standard” of sustainability programs among convention centers is the Oregon Convention Center, which counts 66 percent of solid waste as diverted.

Objective

Improve solid waste diversion. Set ambitious initial objectives for annual amount of solid waste diversion to 25 percent or more of total solid waste.

Managing Unfavorable Conclusions and Inferences

The sustainability movement has taken hold in all aspects of the convention center and tradeshow, convention and meeting industry. Event organizers, exhibitors, and attendees alike are well informed about sustainability issues with respect to solid waste generated by exhibits. Many also practice what they preach.

The reduction in solid waste hauled off site to landfills or incinerators should decrease due to a coordinated industry effort. If Solid Waste per Thousand GSF Rented does not show a steady decrease, then I would look at the nature of the events, as some events generate more of solid waste than others. More likely however, is that the collection and separation of waste for recycling, donations, or composting isn’t working as planned. The effort has to be a multifaceted management undertaking involving time, space (for waste storage and collecting operations), labor, and the cost of it all. This is especially true for convention centers with high occupancy and large events where millions of pounds of freight and materials are delivered, used, and either repacked and shipped or discarded all on tight schedules. The long-term solution will have to be comprehensive from controlling the types of building materials used to properly managing event move out, to having an efficient method for separating and collecting recyclable, compostable, and donated waste.

How to Calculate and/or Organize Data

BASELINE YEAR - HAULED SOLID WASTE/KGSF
	Solid Waste (In tons)	KGSF	Tons of Solid Waste/KGSF
1st Qtr.	578.6	5,838	0.099
2nd Qtr.	632.7	5,838	0.098
3rd Qtr.	538.4	5,838	0.102
4th Qtr.	554.8	5,838	0.101
Total	2,304.5	23,352	0.099

Work Sheet 10.2– Baseline year hauled solid waste/KGSF

CURRENT YEAR - HAULED SOLID WASTE/KGSF
	Solid Waste (In tons)	KGSF	Tons of Solid Waste/KGSF
1st Qtr.	510.9	5,984	0.085
2nd Qtr.	540.3	6,533	0.083
3rd Qtr.	495.2	5,449	0.091
4th Qtr.	496	5,525	0.09
Total	2,042	23,491	0.087

Work Sheet 10.2a– Current year hauled solid waste/KGSF

To calculate solid waste diversion, review Work Sheet 10.2b and follow the calculation instructions below at the end:

SOLID WASTE EFFICIENCY
	Solid Waste Diverted (tons)	Efficiency
Annual Total	310.7	13.10%
Cost per ton	Savings
$58.00	$18,021
	Recycled	Composted	Donated
Annual Total	247	15.4	46.3
%	80%	5%	15%

Work Sheet 10.2b – Solid waste efficiency

Calculation Instructions:

Presentation Notes and Formats

Tables, bar graphs, or both and ring charts to display percentages, comparing current YTD, previous YTD, and business plan.

Things to Watch for—Misinterpretations, Nuances, and Cautions

Don’t Underestimate the Difficulties in Executing a Solid Waste Diversion and Reduction Plan: If your center has greater than a 60 percent occupancy rate, then you should already be aware of the difficulty in separating recycling materials and waste from all the solid waste generated during a hurried event move out. There is normally another event poised to move in the next day. Loading dock space to collect and store bulk quantities of recycled, donated, or compostable waste will also be a problem. Lastly, you will probably have to rely on the cleaning work force to properly separate materials. That workforce is mostly casual part time workers and more supervision will be necessary.

For centers that contract to have the waste hauler pick up and sell or distribute recycled materials, they will often charge extra fees beyond contract price if containers used for recycled or compostable waste are contaminated with other waste.

KPI: Convert the Results (in their units of measure) of All Sustainability KPIs to Tons of Carbon

Owner	Sustainability Manager
Data Sources and Collection	The Sustainability Manager will make all the conversions
Reporting Frequency	Quarterly

Why This KPI Is Useful

For comparisons to B2B company benchmarks or other convention centers.

Objective

A common unit of measure is necessary in order to make comparisons. Carbon dioxide emissions measured in tons is the most accepted and recognized.

Managing Unfavorable Conclusions and Inferences

Not applicable.

How to Calculate and/or Organize Data

The result is the KPI.

Presentation Notes and Format

Table, bar graph, or both, comparing current YTD, previous YTD and business plan.