The Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre has become one of the first convention facilities in Australia to achieve the prestigious Green Globe Certified Silver status under the Green Globe Earthcheck Certification programme managed by EC3 Global. The global programme recognises the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Cenre's commitment to operating at the worlds highest environmental standard.
The Centre is dedicated to providing a clean and professional venue to clients. Since opening, the Centre has strived towards leading industry towards a greener way of conducting business events. The Centres environmental policy is driven by a volunteer committee of dedicated employees in the Project Green Committee. With the assistance of Environmental Management Group, Ecosure the past twelve months has seen the centre successfully implement an Environmental Management Plan and make key changes for energy and water consumption as well as waste strategies.
Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre General Manager Adrienne Readings said the Certified Silver status reflected the Centres ongoing commitment to its environmental policy and its determination to work with clients and suppliers to implement additional sustainability initiatives to further improve its environmental record. The environmental policy has become a natural part of our daily decision-making and we see our commitment as a vital part of our corporate and social responsibility.
The Green Globe program as managed by EC3 Global is the worldwide Benchmarking, Certification and performance improvement system assisting the travel and tourism industry to attain sustainability. Green Globe with Earthcheck science inside provides a certification system that responds directly to the major environmental problems facing the planet, including climate change, waste reduction and non-renewable resource management.
FAST FACTS:
- Energy consumption 38.2% better than Green Globe Best Practice level
- Water consumption 53.1% better than the Green Globe Best Practice level
- Water saving Green Globe checklist rating was 93.4 points; 13.4 points better than Best Practice level
- Light sensors installed throughout all toilets and storerooms
- Fitted all taps with flow restriction devices and water tap sensors installed throughout all bathrooms resulting in a reduction of water use from approximately 30 litres per minute to 6 litres per minute.
- Shower hoses have been retro fitted to reduce water flow from approximately 25 litres per minute to 9 litres per minute.
- Installation of dual flush toilets with a 6/3 litres per minute flow rate. All urinals have been fitted to Zip-master time delay flush systems with a flow rate of 6 litres per minute.
- Installation of new external and stair tread LED lights have cut usage from 18W per unit to 3W per unit
- Currently replacing all external up lights which will reduce usage from 85W to 48W (to be completed July 09)
- All used printer cartridges and toners are recycled through Australia Post and Planet Ark
- Centre has adopted 100% recycled paper throughout all printers and faxes
- Bottlecyclers, (bottle and recyclable glass crushing machines) have been installed throughout the Centre
- The centre uses recycled (non-potable) water for the landscape irrigation systems.
- The Centre has worked with local suppliers to change the way goods are being packaged and delivered. For example: most suppliers are now using cardboard boxes that are then recycled onsite.
- Menus consist of 50% locally-grown and organic ingredients.
- Leftover packaged foods are donated to local food banks.
For more information please visit our Media Centre