Sustainability

Conventions can have a major footprint on their host city. That’s why Philadelphia and its partners are making a commitment to sustainability. Our team can help planners integrate sustainability into their meetings and events.

Pennsylvania Convention Center

The Pennsylvania Convention Center is one of the leaders in convention sustainability, having earned Gold Level Certification for the Events and Industry Council, LEED Gold status, and GBAC STAR accreditation. Even the art that decorates the Center is sustainable — with pieces made from recycled air ducts, bicycle tires, and phone books. Additional sustainability practices include:

• Energy saving reflective roof
• Energy efficient LED lighting
• Innovative cooling systems
• Reduced water use
• Safe cleaning products
• Expanded recycling initiatives
• Streamlined management of HVAC, lighting, power, elevators and escalators

Hotel Sustainability

Over 90% of hotels for convention attendees are within walking distance to the Pennsylvania Convention Center, greatly reducing the need for alternative transportation options and avoiding a significant number of emissions. Most hotels have comprehensive carbon reduction plans and have taken steps to reduce their carbon footprint in the last year. They achieve these goals through a variety of programs including a linen reuse program, sourcing certified sustainable products, and eliminating single use plastics.

Transportation

Philadelphia International Airport (PHL) is committed to operating its facilities in an environmentally responsible manner. The airport focuses on the following initiatives: Water quality, air quality, noise quality and conservation.

In 2011, Philadelphia’s public transportation service, SEPTA launched “SEP-TAINABLE” their award-winning sustainability program. Since the inception of the program, 15% of SEPTA’s electricity comes from clean, renewable energy and 9 out of 10 buses are hybrid-electric vehicles which reduce emission by up to 40%.

Travelers looking options in town can walk or rent a bike from one of over 140 Indego bike share stations around the city and pedal through neighborhoods or along the Schuylkill River Trail.

City of Philadelphia

The City of Philadelphia has a Municipal Energy Master Plan which sets four goals for City government buildings and operations:

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the City’s built environment by 50 percent by 2030.
• Reduce the City’s energy use by 20 percent by 2030.
• Generate or purchase 100 percent of all electricity for the City’s built environment from renewable resources by 2030.
• Maintain or reduce the City’s built environment cost of energy.

An executive order directs all City agencies to ensure all new municipal buildings and major renovation projects achieve a LEED Gold certification beginning in July 2023. Since the order was enacted, eight buildings have achieved LEED certification.