Black Meetings & Tourism - George R. Brown Earns LEED SILVER Certification

Facilities Update
George R. Brown Earns LEED SILVER Certification
Convention Center Operations Cited For Energy Savings, Other Initiatives The George R. Brown Convention Center has earned LEED Silver Certification for an existing building. The certification requires the GRB operations to save energy, minimize water usage, reduce CO2 emissions, recycle waste materials, maintain high standards for indoor environmental quality and operate the building as efficiently as possible. “LEED Silver Certification, along with our solar panels and many other environmental initiatives, demonstrates that large buildings like convention centers can be sustainable and energy efficient,” said David Osterhout, the GRB’s director of operations. “Meeting planners and tradeshow executives are planning green meetings and want their convention center partners to be environmentally responsible,” Osterhout said. “We join the ranks of the few existing-building convention centers across the nation that have become LEED-certified. It’s the right thing to do, and we’re proud we have accomplished the goal.” Luther Villagomez, general manager of the convention center, said meeting the rigid standards of LEED certification requires a strong commitment but is worth the effort. “From a competitive standpoint, earning LEED certification is an important move,” Villagomez said. “But becoming more energy efficient and reducing our long-term energy use is also a prudent, bottom-line action step. Our clients will be happy, and the environment is better for it.” Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing independent verification that a building is designed and built using strategies intended to improve performance. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED is intended to provide building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. The George R. Brown Convention Center ranks among the 10 largest facilities in the United States with nearly 1.2 million sq. ft. of exhibition, meeting and registration space. For more information, please visit www.houstonconventionctr.com.

Facilities Update

George R. Brown Earns LEED SILVER Certification

Convention Center Operations Cited For Energy Savings, Other Initiatives

The George R. Brown Convention Center has earned LEED Silver Certification for an existing building. The certification requires the GRB operations to save energy, minimize water usage, reduce CO2 emissions, recycle waste materials, maintain high standards for indoor environmental quality and operate the building as efficiently as possible.

“LEED Silver Certification, along with our solar panels and many other environmental initiatives, demonstrates that large buildings like convention centers can be sustainable and energy efficient,” said David Osterhout, the GRB’s director of operations. “Meeting planners and tradeshow executives are planning green meetings and want their convention center partners to be environmentally responsible,” Osterhout said. “We join the ranks of the few existing-building convention centers across the nation that have become LEED-certified. It’s the right thing to do, and we’re proud we have accomplished the goal.”

Luther Villagomez, general manager of the convention center, said meeting the rigid standards of LEED certification requires a strong commitment but is worth the effort. “From a competitive standpoint, earning LEED certification is an important move,” Villagomez said. “But becoming more energy efficient and reducing our long-term energy use is also a prudent, bottom-line action step. Our clients will be happy, and the environment is better for it.”

Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) is an internationally recognized green building certification system, providing independent verification that a building is designed and built using strategies intended to improve performance. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, LEED is intended to provide building owners and operators a concise framework for identifying and implementing practical and measurable design, construction, operations and maintenance solutions. The George R. Brown Convention Center ranks among the 10 largest facilities in the United States with nearly 1.2 million sq. ft. of exhibition, meeting and registration space. For more information, please visit www.houstonconventionctr.com.