Kentucky Venues, which includes the Kentucky Exposition Center and Kentucky International Convention Center, is cashing in today on the results of its long-term, comprehensive program to reduce energy usage at the two facilities – earning nearly $400,000 in commercial rebates from Louisville Gas and Electric Company and Kentucky Utilities Company.

“We appreciate LG&E and KU working closely with us to identify facility upgrades,” said Kentucky Venues CEO Jason Rittenberry. “Not only do these improvements play a critical role in helping us remain competitive and keeping our facilities desirable, but the rebate dollars we’ve earned as a result help to make them more affordable.”

The venues’ combined 2.1 million square-feet of event space, plus outdoor demonstration sites, hosts clients from around the world and about 300 events each year. They generate what a recent study estimated at $483 million in economic impact annually and some 1,600 full-time positions in the community.

To keep pace with its evolving industry, the Kentucky State Fair Board, which governs both facilities, initiated an Energy and Efficiency Management Program in 2010 to reduce energy usage at the two venues. This also meant making them more comfortable and customizable for clients and patrons.

Over the last six years, the two facilities underwent a series of improvements that started first at KEC with lighting upgrades and moved into installing variable frequency drives to operate existing equipment more efficiently.

Other improvements at KEC have included installing a 750-ton high-efficiency chiller, new high-efficiency equipment pumps, motors and boilers, automated controls, and equipment that regulates the facility’s energy usage during certain times of the day.

“In addition to having an impact for the venue, the overall impact of upgrades here have a positive impact for our community,” said Jeff Myers, LG&E and KU manager of Energy Efficiency Operations. “We appreciate being our customers’ energy partner to help them achieve their goals and meet their energy needs.”

The LG&E and KU Commercial Rebate Program was approved in 2008 to encourage qualified commercial customers to replace inefficient equipment with high-efficiency lighting, motors, pumps and air conditioning equipment, as well as customized facility improvements that reduce at least one kilowatt of peak energy usage.

To date, participating commercial customers have earned $12.6 million in rebates. The program is approved through 2018 and is offered to LG&E and KU commercial customers who contribute to the Demand Side Management program as part of their monthly bills.

By Mike Lewis

Since 2009, the three-day Electric Zoo Festival has been held annually on Randall’s Island off of Manhattan in New York City over the long Labor Day Weekend. At that time of year, the average temperature is around 80º F (26º C), but has been known to soar as high as 100º F (37º C). Several comparable summer festivals around the world experience similar temperatures, and safety is generally a chief concern.

“Heat-related illnesses have become a huge issue across the entire industry, so our first priority is always the safety and comfort of our attendees,” said Rutger Jansen, Director of Production and Operations for Electric Zoo. “Although things like water stations and misting cannons aren’t particularly memorable items, they contribute significantly to a positive overall experience, and they’re essential for the growth of events like ours, which has already expanded to other locations around the globe.”

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The Minneapolis Convention Center (MCC) announced that it is now LEED Certified for Existing Buildings: Operation & Maintenance (EBOM). The LEED rating system, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the foremost program for buildings, homes and communities that are designed, constructed, maintained and operated for improved environmental and human health performance.

“Sustainability is a priority at the Minneapolis Convention Center, and we are proud to be LEED Certified,” said Jeff Johnson, executive director

of the MCC. “It is our responsibility, not only as meetings and events leaders, but also as citizens of the world to think beyond the walls of our facility and how our actions impact the community at large.

“Take for instance the mighty Mississippi River, which flows directly through downtown Minneapolis and serves as the backbone of our community. Due to a major sustainability effort to install a 250,000 gallon storm water system, we are now diverting an estimated 5.4 million gallons of runoff rainwater annually from the river and redirecting it to our underground storage system for the facility’s irrigation.”

“We strive to use our resources responsibly at the Minneapolis Convention Center, and it became clear we needed to take bold steps to change our primary source of irrigation among other efficiency efforts,” Johnson added. “This mindset has become the cornerstone of our sustainability program and guides our efforts to be the best facility possible for our clients, our staff and the entire community.”

Examples of ongoing notable sustainability initiatives at the MCC include offsetting energy usage by 100 percent with solar and wind power, recycling 60 percent of waste in 2016, collecting 160 tons of organics for hog feed and composting, donating four tons of food per year and creating a pollinator garden.

“To further reduce the waste that is generated by meetings and conventions, it is imperative to work with an award-winning culinary partner like Kelber Catering who values sustainability,” Johnson said. “As we continue to push the needle to improve efficiencies and reduce waste, we are thrilled to have seasoned chef and Kelber veteran John Doody at the helm as our newly named executive chef.”