Colorado Convention Center: 2009 Year End Sustainability Report. Colorado Convention Center th St Denver, CO 80202

Transcription

1 Clrad Cnventin Center: 2009 Year End Sustainability Reprt Clrad Cnventin Center th St Denver, CO 80202

2 Executive Summary The sustainability measures implemented at the Clrad Cnventin Center have generated $1,060,015 in energy savings during the 12 mnth perid frm December f 2008 thrugh Nvember f These energy savings resulted in a 26% reductin in greenhuse gas emissins. The Cnventin Center als achieved a $25,221 savings in water usage. Tracking purchasing during a shrt perid in the year 2009 shwed that n average, 64% f the Clrad Cnventin Center's purchases, by cst, are cnsidered sustainable. The diversin f waste was als clsely dcumented, shwing an verall diversin rate f 43% due t recycling, cmpsting, and dnatin effrts. These sustainability effrts generated an increase in publicity fr the Cnventin Center as a premiere green meetings venue. Table f Cntents Page I. Energy Analysis... 2 Electricity... 3 Slar Panels... 4 Chilled Water... 5 Steam... 6 Kitchen Gas... 7 Primary Gas... 8 II. Greenhuse Gas Emissins... 9 III. Water IV. Sustainable Purchasing V. Waste VI. Publicity Page 1

3 I. Energy Analysis Sustainable management strategies prduced a 29% decrease in energy usage in 2009 in cmparisn t 2008, which resulted in $1,060,015 in utility savings. This is a direct result f the Cnventin Center's sustainable energy plicies. Accrding t Energy Star, the Clrad Cnventin Center is currently 27% mre efficient than the natinal average cnventin center. Energy Usage by Type The table belw summarizes the Cnventin Center's verall energy usage, with thusand-british thermal units (kbtu) serving as an equalizing factr between the different energy types. The Cnventin Center reduced its verall energy usage by 50,256,123 kbtu in 2009 as cmpared t Energy Usage by Type, Type kbtu % f Ttal kbtu % f Ttal Electricity 85,531, % 62,995, % Chilled Water 41,389, % 22,928, % Steam 44,274, % 34,630, % Natural Gas 4,286, % 4,670, % Ttals: 175,481,520 kbtu 125,225,397 kbtu As illustrated by the table abve, electricity represents the largest percentage f energy use acrss bth years, cnsistently representing apprximately 50% f the ttal kbtu. District steam cmes in secnd with 25-27% f the ttal energy usage, fllwed clsely by chilled water at 18-23%. Natural gas represents the smallest percentage f ttal energy use at 2-4%. Savings by Energy Type The largest savings were seen in electricity cnsumptin reductin, with an verall savings f $500,210. Reductin in chilled water cnsumptin yielded the secnd largest savings, with a ttal f $364,513, fllwed by steam at a savings f $197,790, kitchen gas at a savings f $208, fllwed lastly by an increase in gas cnsumptin measured by the primary meter, with an additinal cst f $2,705 ver Savings by Energy Type, 2009 Categry Revenue 2009 Avg. Cst Electricity $500,210 $0.08/kWh (Xcel Energy & slar panels cmbined) Chilled Water $364,513 $0.24/tn-hur Steam $197,790 $22.13/Klbs Kitchen Gas $208 $1.14/therm Primary Gas ($2,705) $0.67/therm Ttal: $1,060,015 Page 2

4 Electricity The Cnventin Center used 26.4% less electricity in 2009 in cmparisn t Based n an average $.08/kWh cst f electricity in 2009, this reductin in electricity usage represents a savings f $500,210. The ttal number f kwh cnsumed in 2009 frm bth Xcel Energy and the rftp slar panels was dwn by 6,604,908 kwh frm Descriptin Xcel Slar Xcel Slar % Change Average kwh $.087 $.090 $.076 $ % Cst Ttal kwh 25,063,093 4,808 18,079, , % (1 mnth) (1 year) Avg. kwh/m. 2,088,591 4,808 1,506,603 31, % Mnthly data: Dec kwh 1,419,338 1,447,106 14, % Jan kwh 1,958,576 1,859,914 18, % Feb kwh 1,783,791 1,636,271 28, % Mar kwh 1,986,235 1,563,019 33, % Apr kwh 1,778,327 1,575,825 32, % May kwh 1,733,020 1,438,909 43, % Jun kwh 2,311,609 1,243,558 42, % Jul kwh 2,856,800 1,452,042 43, % Aug kwh 3,034,454 1,239,477 45, % Sep kwh 2,345,700 1,411,323 35, % Oct kwh 2,140,328 1,783,077 24, % Nv kwh 1,714,915 4,808* 1,428,712 20, % *The slar panels were installed in Nvember f 2008, which explains the lack f data prir t this date. As illustrated by the table, the largest savings came in the mnths f June thrugh September, with an average 47% reductin in electricity use. Page 3

5 3,500,000 Electricity Cmparisn 3,000,000 2,500,000 kwh 2,000,000 1,500,000 1,000, ,000 0 Mnth 2009 Electricity Cnsumptin 2008 Electricity Cnsumptin Slar Panels The rftp slar panels n the Clrad Cnventin Center generated 383,760 kilwatt-hurs (kwh) f electricity in the year This saved the equivalent f 282 metric tns (MtCO2e) f carbn dixide emissins as cmpared t cnventinally prduced electricity, which equates t the CO2 emissins f the fllwing: Saving 31,676 gallns f gasline Saving 655 barrels f il Planting 7,067 trees Taking 53 cars ff the rad fr a year Page 4

6 Chilled Water The Cnventin Center used 44.6% less chilled water in 2009 in cmparisn t Based n an average $0.24 per tn-hur cst f chilled water in 2009, this reductin represents a savings f $364,513. The amunt f chilled water used in 2009 was dwn by 1,538,432 tn-hurs frm Descriptin % Change Average tn-hurs $0.17 $ % Cst Ttal tn-hurs 3,449,101 1,910, % Avg. tn-hurs/m. 287, , % Mnthly data: Dec tn-hurs 41,401 31, % Jan tn-hurs 121,525 54, % Feb tn-hurs 148,278 57, % Mar tn-hurs 137,767 91, % Apr tn-hurs 201,351 99, % May tn-hurs 294, , % Jun tn-hurs 480, , % Jul tn-hurs 648, , % Aug tn-hurs 682, , % Sep tn-hurs 396, , % Oct tn-hurs 207,782 75, % Nv tn-hurs 88,495 65, % 800,000 Chilled Water Cmparisn 700, ,000 Tn-Hurs 500, , , , ,000 0 Mnth 2009 Chilled Water Cnsumptin 2008 Chilled Water Cnsumptin Page 5

7 Steam The Cnventin Center used 21.8% less steam in 2009 in cmparisn t Based n an average price f $22.13/Klb. f steam in 2009, this reductin represents a savings f $197,790. The amunt f steam used in 2009 was dwn by 8,937 Klbs. frm Descriptin % Change Average Klbs Cst $19.61 $ % Ttal Klbs 41,033 32, % Avg. Klbs/m. 3,419 2, % Mnthly data: Dec Klbs 6,749 5, % Jan Klbs 7,619 5, % Feb Klbs 7,275 4, % Mar Klbs 4,490 3, % Apr Klbs 3,475 3, % May Klbs 1,616 1, % Jun Klbs 1, % Jul Klbs % Aug Klbs 1, % Sep Klbs 1, % Oct Klbs 2,579 3, % Nv Klbs 3,352 3, % 8,000 Steam Cmparisn 7,000 6,000 Thusand-Punds 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 0 Mnth 2009 Steam Cnsumptin 2008 Steam Cnsumptin Page 6

8 Kitchen Gas The Cnventin Center has tw natural gas meters n the prperty, ne f which is used t measure the gas used in the kitchen. The kitchen gas use was 24.1% less in 2009 cmpared t Based n an average price f $1.14 per therm in 2009, this reductin represents a savings f $208. The amunt f natural gas used in the kitchen in 2009 was dwn by 183 therms frm Descriptin % Change Average therm Cst $1.21 $ % Ttal therms % Avg. therms/m % Mnthly data: Dec therms % Jan therms % Feb therms % Mar therms % Apr therms % May therms % Jun therms % Jul therms % Aug therms % Sep therms % Oct therms % Nv therms % 160 Kitchen Gas Cmparisn Therms Mnth 2009 Kitchen Gas Cnsumptin 2008 Kitchen Gas Cnsumptin Page 7

9 Primary Gas The remaining natural gas meter (called the "primary gas" meter) at the Cnventin Center measures the amunt f gas used fr a small number f ht water heaters and varius shws. The Cnventin Center saw an increase in primary gas cnsumptin f 9.6% in 2009 cmpared t Based n an average price f $0.67 per therm in 2009, this increase represents an additinal cst f $2,705. The amunt f primary gas used in 2009 was up by 4,026 therms frm 2008, due mainly t a higher usage in March, April, and Octber. Descriptin % Change Average therm Cst $0.61 $ % Ttal therms 42,103 46, % Avg. therms/m. 3,509 3, % Mnthly data: Dec therms 5,858 4, % Jan therms 7,956 5, % Feb therms 7,102 5, % Mar therms 1,495 4, % Apr therms 1,634 4, % May therms 2,936 2, % Jun therms 2,164 1, % Jul therms 1,976 1, % Aug therms 991 1, % Sep therms 2,021 1, % Oct therms 1,874 6, % Nv therms 6,096 5, % 9,000 Primary Gas Cmparisn 8,000 7,000 6,000 Therms 5,000 4,000 3,000 2,000 1,000 0 Mnth 2009 Primary Gas Cnsumptin 2008 Primary Gas Cnsumptin Page 8

10 II. Greenhuse Gas Emissins Due t the energy saved in 2009, the Clrad Cnventin Center reduced its greenhuse gas emissins by 7, tns f carbn dixide (MtCO2e) in cmparisn t This represents a 26.5% reductin in verall greenhuse gas emissins. Greenhuse gases are gases in the atmsphere such as carbn dixide and methane that absrb and emit infrared heat frm the sun. The man-made prductin f such gases is largely thught t be the cause f recent climate change. By using less energy, the Clrad Cnventin Center has caused fewer greenhuse gases t be released int the atmsphere frm the electric, steam, and chilled water plants which perate by burning cal r natural gas. This is equivalent t the fllwing emissins reductins: Saving 737,571 gallns f gasline Saving 15,249 barrels f il Planting 168,128 trees Taking 1,254 cars ff the rad fr a year GHG Emissins (MtCO2e/year) 30, , , Metric Tns f CO2 20, , , , , Year Page 9

11 III. Water As a result f varius water-saving plumbing fixtures and landscaping practices, the Cnventin Center used 48.4% less water in 2009 in cmparisn t Based n an average price f $1.967 per thusand gallns f water in 2009, this reductin represents a savings f $23,222. The amunt f water cnsumed in 2009 was dwn by 11,814,000 gallns frm Descriptin % Change Average price per kgal - $ Ttal kgal 24,434 12, % Avg. kgal/m. 2,036 1, % Mnthly data: Dec kgal - 2,198 Jan kgal 3,070 Feb kgal 2,304 Mar kgal % 3,073 Apr kgal May kgal 2,083 3,060 Jun kgal Jul kgal 1,392 6,553 Aug kgal % Sep kgal 5, % Oct kgal 1,226 3,434 Nv kgal 1, % There were irregularities in the bill structure between 2008 and 2009; see nte belw. 1 1 Denver Water used a 2-mnth billing cycle up until June f 2009, when mid-mnth the billing structure was switched t a single-mnth frmat. Als, September f 2008 was billed as a single mnth fr the purpse f tracking the water used during the Demcratic Natinal Cnventin, which caused the ffset between the 2-mnth bills frm each f the tw years. Page 10

12 Water Cmparisn 6,000 5,000 Thusand Gallns (kgal) 4,000 3,000 2,000 1, Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nv Mnth As illustrated in the chart abve, there was an abnrmally high water usage in July- September 2008, mst likely due t the presence f the Demcratic Natinal Cnventin. If the data frm these 3 mnths is excluded, the Cnventin Center used 34% less water in 2009 cmpared t Page 11

13 IV. Sustainable Purchasing The Clrad Cnventin Center purchases sustainable prducts in whenever it is ecnmically feasible t d s. Sustainable purchases can be brken dwn int varius categries. The fllwing fur categries have been included in this analysis: Office Cnsumables, Green Cleaning Equipment, Green Cleaning Prducts, and Durable Gds: Electric Pwered Equipment. The Cnventin Center began tracking its sustainable purchases in August f Acrss these fur categries, 69% f the purchases, by cst, are cnsidered sustainable. Office Cnsumables Office cnsumables are lsely defined as gds that are regularly used and dispsed f thrughut the curse f business. Examples f ffice cnsumables include ffice paper, ink cartridges, ffice supplies, and batteries. Sustainable ffice cnsumables includes anything frm paper with pst-cnsumer recycled cntent r Frest Stewardship Cuncil (FSC) wd t rechargeable batteries. Frm August-Nvember f 2009, the Cnventin Center purchased a ttal f $31,221 f ffice cnsumables, $14,423 f which are cnsidered sustainable gds, r 46.2% f the ttal ffice cnsumables purchased thrughut this time perid. The U.S. Green Building Cuncil's Leadership in Energy & Envirnmental Design (LEED) prgram ffers a weighted system fr calculating the sustainable value f such purchases. Fr example, prducts with duble the minimum recycled cntent cunt fr duble their mnetary value. Under this system, the Clrad Cnventin Center purchased $29,438 wrth f sustainable ffice cnsumables, r 94.3% f the ttal. Cleaning Prducts Green cleaning prducts help maintain a healthy indr envirnmental air quality thrugh the use f envirnmentally-preferable chemicals. Such prducts include Green Seal certified chemicals, trash liners made frm rapidly renewable materials, and Envirnmental Chice certified materials. Frm August-Nvember f 2009, the Cnventin Center purchased $93,083 wrth f cleaning prducts, $62,941 f which were cnsidered green cleaning prducts, r 68% f the verall cst f cleaning prducts. Cleaning Equipment Green cleaning equipment is equipment used fr cleaning the building that helps prmte building ccupant cmfrt. Fr example, equipment perating belw certain decibel levels reduces nise assciated with cleaning, and ergnmically designed equipment maximizes peratr cmfrt. Of the 87 pieces f cleaning equipment catalged, 38% are cnsidered green cleaning equipment. Durable Gds: Electric Pwered Equipment Durable Gds: Electric Pwered Equipment is equipment such as cmputers, mnitrs, radis, and fax machines that are either Energy Star r EPEAT rated (Electrnic Prduct Envirnmental Assessment Tl). Being rated by such prgrams ensures that the equipment is energy efficient cmpared t similar prducts. Frm August-Nvember f 2009, the Cnventin Center purchased Page 12

14 $14,541 wrth f Electric Pwered Equipment, $11,094 f which is Energy Star f EPEAT rated, r 76.3% f the verall electric pwered equipment purchases by cst. Sustainable Purchases, Aug.-Nv Office Cnsumables 46% Purchasing Categry Cleaning Prducts Cleaning Equipment 38% 68% Durable Gds: Electric Pwered Equipment 76% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% Sustainable Purchases as % f Ttal (by cst) Page 13

15 V. Waste The Clrad Cnventin Center has in place a recycling and cmpst prgram thrughut the facility t help minimize the amunt f materials hauled t landfills. Additinally, when renvatin prjects ccur, the Cnventin Center makes an effrt t find lcal cmpanies t dnate materials remved frm the building. The Cnventin Center perfrmed a waste audit in Octber f 2009 and tracked its waste utput thrughut 2009 in an effrt t better understand its waste tendencies, and t assess methds in which t increase participatin in recycling and cmpsting. Frm January t Nvember f 2009, the Cnventin Center prduced a ttal f 1,966,479 punds f waste, such as paper, tner cartridges, glass, plastics, cardbard, fd waste, and cnstructin materials: 384,758 punds f this waste, r 20% f the ttal, were cmpsted thrugh A1 Organics. 425,500 lbs, r 22% f the ttal, were recycled thrugh the cmmingled recycling prgram with Recycle America. 28,919 lbs., r 1.5% f the ttal, were recycled thrugh a special vendr r reused ff-site. (This mainly applied t cnstructin materials such as HVAC filters, insulatin, r carpeting, in additin t the extra cnventin materials repurpsed thrugh the Resurce Recvery Rm.) The remaining 1,127,302 lbs., r 57% f the ttal, were sent t landfill thrugh the Waste Management trash hauling service. Waste Diversin Rates 2009 Cmpst 20% Trash 57% Cmpst Recycling (general) Recycling/Reused ff-site (cnstructin, etc.) Trash Recycling/Reused ffsite (cnstructin, etc.) 1% Recycling (general) 22% The Cnventin Center als recycled 14 desktp cmputers thrugh the City f Denver's recycling prgram. Additinally, the Cnventin Center has a battery recycling prgram in place with a gal f diverting at least 80% f discarded batteries frm the trash. Page 14

16 VI. Publicity The Cnventin Center has enjyed a great deal f publicity fr its green effrts, especially during the year The fllwing table highlights the media attentin the Cnventin Center received mst recently, which increased greatly during the year 2009 as cmpared t the previus tw years: Date Publicatin Descriptin December 17, 2007 City f Denver press release Highlights SMG's $17,000 dnatin t the Mile High Millin tree prgram as helping "Denver's reputatin as an envirnmentallyfriendly city." September 3, 2008 PlanYurMeetings.cm Article titled "Greening f an Industry" highlights Lindsay Smith's wrk t create a green meeting certificatin system. March 17, 2009 Clrad Meetings & Events Magazine 2009 Best f Clrad winner fr "Best Green Meeting Facility." March 18, 2009 April 20, 2009 City f Denver press release Clrad Meetings & Events Magazine Recgnized as "leader in green venue management" fr the rftp slar panel installatin. Named Lindsay Smith as helping t "make Denver the first chice fr planners rganizing green meetings." April 20, 2009 Tradeshw Week Interview with Lindsay Smith, naming her "ne f the few peple in the industry with the full-time jb f maintaining sustainable prgrams at a cnventin center." Octber 21, 2009 Tradeshw Week Talks abut Lindsay Smith as the name that immediately cmes t mind "when thinking abut sustainability in Denver." (nging) Denver.rg Q&A with Lindsay Smith, highlighting green meetings d nt cst mre than cnventinal meetings. (nging) Greenprint Denver Invites visitrs t "plan a meeting in the city that hsted the greenest Demcratic Natinal Cnventin." As illustrated in the table abve, the sustainability features f the Clrad Cnventin Center were featured in the press 7 times in the year 2009 alne. This includes tw pieces f marketing material frm Denver.rg and Greenprint Denver that are made available t the public n an nging basis. Page 15