The Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre (BCEC) continues to lead the way in sustainability for the meetings and events industry, with the installation of 764 solar panels on the roof of its Grey Street building.
The Centre already has EarthCheck Gold accreditation from the world’s most recognised environmental benchmarking program for its commitment to sustainable venue operations, and is on track to receive Platinum Certification in 2020.
The 309.42 kilowatt solar system, worth more than half a million dollars, is expected to supply 40% of energy demand from the operation of the Centre’s BCEC on Grey Street venue.
BCEC’s owner, South Bank Corporation Chief Executive Bill Delves said the solar panels would not only cut the Centre’s electricity costs but bolster the overall sustainability of the precinct.
“The South Bank Precinct is renowned for its vast green footprint as well as many sustainable initiatives for our community and places,” Professor Delve said.
The introduction of solar comes on the back of a recently installed energy saving LED lighting system for the Centre’s Exhibition Halls, Concourse and Car Park, which have been equipped with smart lighting control facilitating daylight harvesting.
BCEC General Manager, Bob O’Keeffe said these latest initiatives build significantly on the Centre’s green credentials and combined with existing measures will ensure BCEC remains at the forefront of venue sustainability into the future.
The Centre was an early advocate of sustainable venue operations, participating in the Australian Government’s Greenhouse Challenge back in 2001 and the first convention centre in Australia to develop its very own carbon calculator for measuring event emissions in 2008.
“We have developed a culture at the Centre where we believe as individuals and as an organisation we have an obligation to make choices that reduce our impact on the environment and contribute to building more caring communities
“This is a vital part of providing a world class facility and delivering the best possible conference and event experience. It is a fundamental pillar to success,” he said.
