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Is your building "green?"
It's a question we're often asked amid growing concerns over global warming.
We're proud to say the San Diego Convention Center is indeed "green," committed to not only supporting, but encouraging "environmentally friendly" meetings. Over the past three years, we have garnered nearly a half-dozen state and city awards for our highly successful energy conservation and recycling efforts to date.
Conservation of energy and natural resources continues to be among our highest priorities and we are constantly initiating, evaluating, and expanding programs promoting minimal use of materials and natural resources that adversely impact the environment. These programs are not only part of our daily corporate culture, but are, in most instances, readily available to our clients and guests.
 
- Recycle glass bottles, plastic containers, aluminum cans, paper products, plastic guest badges, wood pallets, copper wire, tires, batteries and corrugated cardboard.
- Recyclable event materials are collected in clearly marked receptacles several times a day during shows on a no-fee basis.
- All trash is sorted by hand to separate out recyclable materials.
- Bi-products made with biodegradable, recycled materials, including legal pads, envelopes, copy paper, storage boxes, paper clips, toilet paper, facial tissue, and paper towels.
- Use double-sided copies, limit colored paper, circulate documents electronically.
- Re-use old uniforms as cleaning rags.
- Divert approximately 388 tons of solid waste per year to recyclers or roughly 28 percent of our total waste per month.
- Donate excess food, equipment, convention bags and clothing to local charities. Over 150,000 pounds of food was donated in 2006.
- In 2005, we replaced 3,400 tons of absorption chiller machines used for venting and air conditioning. The annual energy savings is $344,000 and the energy consumption has been reduced by 2.9 million kWh per year. Daily inspections of lighting, fans, etc. to reduce energy consumption.
- Disconnect or shutdown equipment not is use each night.
- Installed energy management software for lighting and HVAC.
- Super-energy efficient dishwasher saves 3,297 kWh and 8,198 gallons of water annually.
- Occupancy sensors installed throughout the building, including offices and restrooms.
- Grounds crew uses large wood dumpster for recyclable green waste.
- Mulch used on all beds to reduce water irrigation needs.
- Use drought-tolerant greenscape and slow-growing plants to reduce irrigation and need for trimming.
 Two trolley stops directly in front of the Convention Center.- Pedestrian friendly downtown with over 11,000 hotel rooms within walking distance of our building.
- Public Transportation reimbursement for employees.
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