Green Meetings

BREATHE EASY AT THE ONTARIO CONVENTION CENTER

WHAT WE ARE DOING

Ontario Convention Center is committed to reducing our environmental impact. We do so through ongoing efforts to save energy and water, recycle, purchase environmentally preferable products, and help raise awareness of environmental issues. Here are just a few of the projects we have implemented to minimize our environmental impact:

RECYCLING EFFORTS INCLUDE:

• Paper and cardboard recycling
• All computer parts and components
• Supplies for all printer toner cartridges
• Battery recycling

We are continually striving to increase our Green program!  In addition we utilize our media assets to help educate and remind the general public of sustainable programs.  Every little bit helps overall and we encourage our clients and community to be a part of saving energy, reducing water use, and recycling.

WHAT YOU CAN DO

We’re doing our part to reduce our environmental impact and hope you will join us in our efforts. Here are a few tips how you can make a difference:

• Consider walking, biking, taking public transit, or carpooling to avoid traffic, save on gas and parking, and reduce your carbon footprint.
• Use only as many disposable items (e.g., paper towels, napkins, utensils) as you need
• Turn off water faucets when you’re finished
• Let us know if you spot any leaks or water run off
• When necessary to replace – use energy efficient appliances
• Sort and recycle waste at home and use appropriate receptacles at public places
• Adjust your thermostat, only use when you are home

CALIFORNIA SOLAR INDUSTRY FACTS

• There are currently more than 2,182 solar companies at work throughout the value chain in California, employing 54,700 people.
• In 2014, California installed 4,316 MW of solar electric capacity, ranking it 1st nationally.
• The 9,977 MW of solar energy currently installed in California ranks the state 1st in the country in installed solar capacity.  There is enough solar energy installed in the state to power 2,424,000 homes.
• In 2014, $11.75 billion was invested on solar installations in California.  This represents a 66% increase over the previous year, and is expected to grow again this year.
• Average installed residential and commercial photovoltaic system prices in California have fallen by 3% in the last year. National Prices have also dropped steadily — by 8% from last year and 49% from 2010.

Facts provided by SEIA 

GREEN MEETINGS

The Ontario Convention Center is constantly striving to lead the way in offering and incorporating environmentally-friendly practices as a part of our green meetings and operations. We believe that it is up to each of us to do our part to help ensure we are being as conscious as possible to work towards reducing our environmental impact. This includes both small and large initiatives. We recycle most conference and meeting materials and donate unused food to local shelter. We installed an energy-efficient roof and building automation system that regulates entergy use for heat, power, and lighting to improve efficiency. The City of Ontario, California is also a participant in the Southern California Edison Demand Bid Program that helps keep the grid working at periods of extremely high demand.  Our goal is to make your meetings as green as possible all while making your meeting or conference a successful event!

Below are some of the top highlights of both our building and recycling program

BUILDING

• California Title 9 qualified, energy efficient thermoplastic, poured in place, white reflective roof
• Variable frequency drives on convention center air handlers, largest chiller, cooling towers and water pumps, which lower the building’s electrical usage
• Sensory light switches in storage rooms and restrooms
• Building automation system to oversee the use of heat, light and power for all meeting and exhibit space to ensure efficient use
• Donate unused food to the local chapter of the Salvation Army
• Participant in the Southern California Edison Demand Bid Program: As daily energy demands increase in peak seasons, we voluntarily decrease our electrical usage

RECYCLING

• Cintas® for all paper recycling
• Main Street Fibers for all cardboard recycling
• ESPI and E-cycle Environmental for all computer parts and components
• Daisy Supplies for all printer toner cartridges
• City of Ontario Hazardous Waste Center for battery recycling
• Participants in Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s “Pee Green™” program that replaced 36 water-flushing urinals with Falcon Waterfree urinals
• Purchase locally grown products and organic produce whenever possible
• Use only recyclable disposable wares
• Purchase only sustainable and environmentally sound seafood products outlined by groups such as the Marine Stewardship Council
• Work with environmentally friendly suppliers
• Donate excess product to outreach programs for the elderly and less fortunate

SMART ONTARIO

The City of Ontario continues full steam ahead with “Smart Ontario,” an initiative improving safety, efficiency, and connectivity through the modernization of energy infrastructure at 26 facilities, including the Ontario Convention Center and Toyota Arena.

When construction broke ground in late 2020, energy and operational savings were estimated to exceed $75 million over the life of the new equipment, and greenhouse gas reduced by more than 10,000 tons annually.

As the project nears completion, Smart Ontario is well on its way to fulfilling initial projections. During the 2021 construction calendar year, Ontario reported reducing energy use by nearly 4.5 million kilowatt hours (kWh), saving the City over $750,000. These exceptional savings results will continue to grow as project components are completed and put into service, including HVAC replacements, LED streetlights, solar photovoltaics, and battery energy storage systems (some of which require SCE approvals prior to operation).

“The energy savings during construction have exceeded our expectations. What’s most exciting is that this is just the beginning,” said Ontario Mayor Paul Leon. “Replacing our outdated infrastructure to create smart and sustainable facilities serves a multifaceted purpose. Not only are we preserving taxpayer dollars, but we are also creating a cleaner environment for our community to proudly live, work and play in.”

Solar panels and solar-powered pool heaters create renewable energy sources and EV charging stations and backup battery energy storage systems further build energy independence. Smart Ontario also added high-efficiency LED lighting inside and outside of buildings and parks, including all city-owned streetlights, as well as high-efficiency HVAC units and controls.

The Convention Center’s HVAC system upgrades have already reduced annual utility consumption by almost 450,000 kWh and 8,300 therms of natural gas, while the Toyota Arena has dropped usage by over 1,300,000 kWh and 35,000 therms. Once construction is fully completed and solar installations come online, grid-purchased power will further reduce Ontario’s grid power energy usage and cost.

The City secured more than $30 million in funding to roll out Smart Ontario from the California Energy Commission Energy Conservation Assistance Act (ECAA), California Self-Generation Incentive Program (SGIP), and private sector funding at historically low-interest rates.

“The City of Ontario is paving the way toward a brighter, sustainable future in Southern California’s Inland Empire,” said Jeff Bartel, business development manager at Climatec, the energy and building technologies provider supporting Ontario’s program. “Climatec has enjoyed being part of Ontario’s unwavering commitment to sustainability.”