LOS ANGELES—The Los Angeles Convention Center (LACC), owned by the City of Los Angeles and managed by AEG Facilities, recently received California’s highest environmental honor, the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award (GEELA), for its waste reduction efforts in a ceremony at the California Environmental Protection Agency.
The LACC sustainability initiatives recognized include the installation of a “cool roof” and light defusing windows to reflect sunlight and direct heat away from the building, new water-efficient kitchen dishwashers and the replacement of 30,000 square feet of turf with drought-tolerant landscaping. As a result, the LACC is now 36 percent more energy efficient than the median building in Los Angeles and saves up to 950,000 gallons of water annually.
“This year’s GEELA recipients are demonstrating exceptional leadership in addressing some of our most significant environmental challenges,” said California Secretary for Environmental Protection Matthew Rodriquez. “Whether it’s fighting climate change, conserving our water supplies or reducing waste, they inspire us with their creative and collaborative approaches. Their success expands our view of what is possible. Collectively, they are proving that a healthy environment is inextricably linked with a vibrant economy.”
Established in 1993, GEELA is awarded to individuals, organizations and businesses that have demonstrated exceptional leadership and made notable, voluntary contributions to conserving California’s precious resources, protecting and enhancing our environment, building public-private partnerships and strengthening the state’s economy.
‘Aggressive Steps to Improve Energy Efficiency’
“Building a sustainable future means taking aggressive steps to improve energy efficiency in our built environment—and we’re setting a strong example with our convention center,” said Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. “We have taken exceptional strides under AEG Facilities’ management, and I’m proud to celebrate this success.”
Under the management of AEG Facilities, the LACC has elevated and expanded its sustainable practices with the goal of decreasing its carbon footprint. The sustainability program includes more than 30 environmentally friendly practices and procedures implemented across five areas: Energy and Climate, Water, Waste and Recycling, Responsible Purchasing, and Education and Communication. The results: conservation of energy and water, the consistent increase in waste diversions rates, responsible purchasing of in-house goods, and the demonstration of leadership to local real estate and broad convention center communities.
“Sustainability and energy efficiency are core values at AEG Facilities,” says Brad Gessner, Senior Vice President and General Manager at the LACC. “At the Los Angeles Convention Center, we have adopted the strategies of AEG 1EARTH, AEG’s program established to reduce the company’s environmental impact, and constantly strive to be innovative and reach new goals to better our environmental impact in the city of Los Angeles and the greater state of California.”
