October marking National Energy Awareness Month, as first proclaimed by President George H.W. Bush in 1991, is an opportunity for everyone – including venue operators – to look at practical ways to implement energy-efficient measures year-round.
Some may take inspiration from venues like San Francisco’s Chase Center, which was built with sustainability in mind. The venue opened in 2019 and received a LEED Gold certification for its design and construction.
One example of the venue’s sustainable design is the high solar reflectance index (SRI) on its light-colored roof, which General Manager Donna Daniels notes “helps to reduce urban heat impact by reflecting sunlight and preventing heat absorption.” Energy efficiency measures include occupancy-based lighting controls, energy-efficient LED lighting and a HVAC system called Indirect-Direct Evaporative Cooling (IDEC) that uses less energy than traditional air conditioning.