Green Meeting & Convention Facilities

How green is your convention? At Houston's major facilities, you can produce a more sustainable meeting or event. Read on to find out what these venues are doing to reduce energy usage and waste.

George R. Brown Convention Center 

• The GRB Houston is powered 100 percent with green energy
• Recycling program: paper, plastic, ink cartridges and aluminum, telecommunications cable
• Water and energy conservation program
• Food & Beverage: Use of compostable food and beverage containers that turn back into soil in approximately 45-90 days, dramatically reducing the waste stream

• Dinner and beverage napkins made from 100 percent recycled paper
• Increased purchases of organic and locally grown or sourced products
• Upgraded lighting controls using the "Watt Stopper" software to reduce and manage lighting systems
• Installed motion sensors in some areas to reduce lighting when not required
• Added motion sensor sinks and flush valves in the restrooms to save water
• Recycle paper, cardboard, plastic and aluminum cans

NRG Park 

• Motion sensor sinks and flush valves in the restrooms to save water
• Motion sensors in restrooms to reduce lighting when not required
• With the assistance of Waste Management, over 250 collection bins were purchased and distributed at strategic locations throughout NRG Stadium and the recycling program is focused on the collection of cardboard, glass, and plastic.
• NRG Park has created 30 acres of green space that included 2,200 trees and two permanent water features
• NRG Park has an established Building Automation System (BAS) used to maximize energy use throughout NRG Park by controlling start and stops at optimal times

Toyota Center 

• The Toyota Center is a LEED Silver Certification for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
• Introduction of a high-performance green cleaning program
• Attaining innovation points through efforts such as Green Committee projects, Green Games, community outreach efforts and e-cycling events.

Houston Astros AT&T Conference Center at Minute Maid Park 

• The center provides each event and meeting with menu options that source meats and produce from local Texas farms and ranches.
• Clients use post-consumer recyclable or reusable serviceware in all meal services.
• The popular "lunch box items" that clients receive will be served in reusable totes.

PNC Stadium

• PNC Stadium was awarded the LEED® Silver certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in December 2012.
• The stadium has been identified as a pioneering example of new construction and sustainable design and is considered a leader in transforming the building industry.
• The stadium diverts 86.85% of the on-site generated construction waste from landfill and provides ample recycling receptacles throughout the facility to encourage fan recycling.
• Reduces energy use 20.41% using the ASHRAE 90.1-2007 baseline calculation methodology.
• Sources 98.42% of the total wood-based building materials from FSC certified forest.
• Provides preferred parking spaces for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles.
• Fan & Staff Recycling program: paper, plastic, cardboard and aluminum.