When it comes to conserving water, the SMG-managed Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center is going with the environmental flow!  We’re transforming our facility into an effective water saving organization where every drop counts.

When you think about water conservation, the first things that typically come to mind are not letting faucets run too long, fixing drips and taking shorter showers. Those are great places to start.  The Broward County Convention Center‘s water conservation program puts the cap on wasteful water usage with an all inclusive commitment composed of water-saving practices inside and out.

Inside, the Center has installed low-flow toilets, faucets, dishwashers and other innovative water saving devices that our guest are likely to notice. Outside, we’re taking steps that are not as obvious, but which save millions of gallons of water annually.

We’ve begun with revamping our Convention Center’s landscape design to maximize efficiency and reduce irrigation needs by using native and adaptive plants and trees which thrive in our South Florida climate and yet require less water than other greenery.  Installing a micro-drip irrigation system efficiently sends water directly to the roots of plants and trees, using 30 percent less water than a conventional sprinkler system. The Center also has minimized the amount of area covered with conventional, water-dependent turf grass.

These steps are part of a technique known as xeriscaping. This beautiful, Florida-friendly landscape is water-wise and drought resistant.  It makes the Broward County Convention Center green in more ways than one!

Even though three quarters of our planet is water, only a tiny percentage is usable. The demand continues to grow amid stories of scarcities in cities throughout the nation and the world. Water conservation is the most cost-effective and environmentally-sound way to reduce our demand for water.

Start Conserving Water Today

Here are some easy water-saving steps everyone can take:

1. Turn off the water!  When washing your hands, brushing your teeth, shaving or doing dishes, turn off the faucet when not directly in use.
2. Fix leaky faucets and toilets. If a faucet is dripping at the rate of one drop per second, it can waste approximately 2,000 gallons of water a year!
3. Take shorter showers and use ultra-low-flow showerheads.
4. Avoid prewashing dishes before loading the dishwasher.
5. Use dishwashers and washing machines only when they are fully loaded.
6. Adjust the level on your washing machine to match the load size.

We all can make a difference, one drop at a time!

Sustainably yours,

The Green Team

Imagine retrofitting a 600,000 square-foot facility with new energy-efficient lighting.  We’re on our way!  Energy conservation is a critical component of the Broward County Convention Center’s green initiative as we strive to reduce our carbon footprint.

Here in sunny Fort Lauderdale, the Convention Center is using our abundant natural daylight to full advantage wherever possible, such as lowering lighting levels during event set-up and tear-down.  We’ve also installed an automated system for temperature and lighting control.

Energy conservation for LEED Certification includes supporting renewable energy by purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) for off-site renewable wind energy systems.  By using this program, our Convention Center is committed to becoming and remaining a carbon-neutral facility. In fact, our most recent green power purchase will help keep 20,722,187 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, which can be equated to planting 85,276 fully-grown trees!

To assure we’re the best that we can be when it comes to energy conservation, the Convention Center also conducted an independent, third-party energy audit to make sure energy is being conserved in all possible ways.

Sustainability is becoming a more recognizable goal every day, as increasing numbers of people look for ways to reduce their energy consumption on the road, at home and in the workplace.  It’s surprisingly easy to save money through energy conservation. Here are a few ways to get started:

Energy Conservation Ideas

1. Switch to energy-saving light bulbs throughout your home or office.
2. Turn off the lights!  Make sure lights are out every time you leave a room.
3. Turn off ceiling fans when you leave a room.
4. Install a programmable thermostat for your cooling/heating system to automatically adjust the temperature and maximize your energy savings.
5. Cool your home or office to a higher temperature, as even cooling to a few degrees warmer results in energy savings.  Raise your thermostat to 80 degrees or above when you’re away.
6. Heat your home or office to 68 degrees, lowering the temperature at night or when you’re away.
7. Change your air conditioner filter once a month to maximize efficient use of your system.
8. Turn off computers when not in use and do not leave power cords for computers, cellular phones or other portable devices plugged in when not in use. They will be wasting energy and money.
9. Consider the use of solar energy panels.
10. Sign up for your power company’s energy-saving plan.

Have an energy efficient day!

Sustainably yours,

The Green Team

If we may borrow a metaphor from the weight loss industry, creating an eco-friendly convention center is not a fad diet that’s “here today and gone tomorrow.” Rather, it’s a complete lifestyle makeover that involves the way we work and the countless decisions we make at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center every day, from energy and water efficiency and recycling to xeriscape, the products we purchase and more.

Our green initiative began with many simple practices that most of us already use at home, such as recycling bottles, cans, paper and plastics, as well as choosing to purchase recycled products.  It felt right to all of us and we wanted to do more.

So in October 2008 the Center’s “Green Team” took its first steps toward what eventually would prepare us for LEED certification for Existing Buildings: Operations & Management, including working with Sustainable Options, LLC, Green Building Consultants to register our Convention Center with the United States Green Building Council (USGBC). By 2009, the Center had a plan in place and was ready to move forward with LEED certification.

“The process of earning LEED certification for Existing Buildings presents opportunities and challenges every step of the way,” said Carlos Puentes, Deputy Director of the Broward County Convention Center. “Creating an environmentally sustainable building is a mindset that must be evident in the decisions and actions shaping every aspect of construction and ongoing operations. Our Convention Center team is completely on board when it comes to transforming our facility and reducing our carbon imprint.”

Today the SMG-managed Broward County Convention Center annually recycles an estimated 150 tons of brochures, wood pallets, cardboard, carpet and padding, clear sheet plastic, plastic table cloths, lamps and bulbs, shrink wrap, twine, landscaping debris and batteries, as well as plastic bottles, glass and cans. We take advantage of every opportunity to reduce energy and water usage. Our eco-friendly attitude impacts everything we do in providing an outstanding guest experience each and every time.

We invite you to join us on our journey to preserving resources for generations to come. It’s amazing how many small, but important things we can all do. Many cities already have recycling practices in place for plastic bottles, glass, cans and paper.  But there are many other simple ways to recycle at home and at your work place. Here are three simple steps everyone can take to a greener lifestyle:

Going Green Business Ideas

1. Buy and use recycled products whenever possible.
2. Recycle ink cartridges from computer printers and copiers by taking them to office supply stores that have safe-recycle programs in place.  Some offer incentives such as a free package of computer printer paper for every recycled ink cartridge.
3. Properly dispose of old batteries, electronics and other potentially hazardous products.  Check with your city regarding disposal of these items to keep harmful chemicals and byproducts from seeping into the environment.

It’s an exciting new era as the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center moves closer to achieving LEED certification for Existing Buildings.

Sustainably yours,

The Green Team

Image licensed under Creative Commons, courtesy of Theorris