Greening a Meeting

What You Can Do In Pittsburgh

• Lights, power and HVAC can be lowered in the exhibition hall during load-in and load-out.
• Recycle bins are provided for glass, aluminum, plastic, paper and cardboard.
• The Convention Center can serve drinking water from large containers rather than individual bottles. Also, caterers can be asked not to pre-fill drinking glasses or provide saucers under coffee cups.
• Caterers can provide organic and locally grown foods whenever possible and affordable (minimum 15 percent of meals)
• Leftover food can be donated to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, and leftover building materials to Construction Junction, a retail store that resells used building materials.
• Decorator companies can use recyclable carpet, reusable signage and earth-friendly cleaning products.
• The Convention Center provides supplies including 20% post-consumer content hand towels and toilet paper, and environmentally friendly cleaning products.
• Name badges and badge holders can be produced from recycled materials; programs can be printed on recycled post-consumer paper with soy-based ink.
• The Convention Center can sweep, not spray, parking lots, sidewalks and driveways as a water conservation measure.
• Exhibitors can be asked to use display materials that adhere to indoor air-quality standards such as nontoxic paints, cleaners and fabrics.

Green Awards

The David L. Lawrence Convention Center is the world’s largest “green” building, earning a Gold Certification in the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System. Certified buildings meet the Council’s environmental performance criteria for conservation and environmental quality efforts.

Conservation Efforts Add Up

• The David L. Lawrence Convention Center recycles 6,000 pounds of cans annually—conserving enough energy to produce 7,638 gallons of gasoline or light a 100-watt light bulb for 101 years.
• The Convention Center recycles an estimated 124,000 pounds of paper and cardboard per year, saving 1,054 trees, 434,000 gallons of water, 682 barrels of oil and 186 cubic yards of landfill space.
• The Convention Center’s advanced water reclamation system reduces water usage by 55 percent.