Green Meetings

ABOUT GREEN MEETINGS

When it comes to green meetings, Team San Jose makes it easy, with comprehensive eco-friendly practices, products and services. A recipient of the 2009 Sustainable and Green Development Award by the International Economic Development Council and voted one of the greenest cities by Green Tech Media, planners can rest easy knowing that San Jose is environmentally progressive and actively involved in setting the Green standard. From hotels to the Convention Center to the San Jose International Airport (SJC) – San Jose’s visitor industry is collectively putting its best carbon footprint forward.

SAN JOSE'S GREEN VISION

In 2007, the City of San Jose developed a 15-year, city-wide Green Vision comprised of 10 aggressive goals. The plan promotes cutting-edge sustainable practices and demonstrates that the goals of economic growth, environmental stewardship and fiscal responsibility are inextricably linked. For the full list of goals and San Jose’s progress, please visit www.sanjoseca.gov/greenvision.

Among the Green Vision’s specific goals are:

• Retrofitting 50 million sq. ft. of green buildings
• Creating 25,000 clean tech jobs
• Creating 100 miles of trails connecting with 400 miles of on-street bikeways
• Requiring 100% of the City’s electrical power come from clean, renewable sources by 2022

SAN JOSE CONVENTION AND CULTURAL FACILITIES

Fully embracing the City’s Green Vision, Team San Jose, the Convention Center and the Cultural Facilities boast a variety of environmentally forward practices including:

• Composting services (one of the few West Coast centers to offer such services)
• The first ChargePoint America electrical vehicle charging stations in San Jose, allowing the public to charge electric cars for free at the Convention Center public parking garage
• Achieved over 87% Convention Center and Cultural Facilities Diversion rate in Fiscal Year 2012-2013. This percentage represents the amount of waste generated from the facilities that is diverted from landfills by being recycled, repurposed or composted
• The Convention Center is applying for LEED silver certification by the U.S. Green Building Council, with 95% of demolition spoils (nearly 1,300 truck loads) being recycled or reused in the construction of the new expansion
• Eliminating approximately 200 million pounds of carbon dioxide that is annually associated with convention power generation, by partnering with The Tech Interactive
• Operating facilities in line with Pacific Gas & Electric’s Climate SmartProgram™ which aims to create a climate neutral footprint
• Using electrically powered service carts around the Convention Facilities, as well as energy efficient LED plasma screens for event advertising
• Purchasing and using only Green Seal Cleaning Supplies

Additionally, the in-house culinary team embodies the Green Vision by:

• Sourcing the freshest local ingredients from regional vendors to create distinctive customizable meals for 50 to 5,000
• Donating excess food to local food banks and shelters
• Recycling paper products, carpeting and food waste
• Providing recyclable and compostable meal products, such as plates, cups, silverware, napkins and box lunch containers
• Donating fryer oil for use as Bio Diesel fuel

SAN JOSE INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (SJC)

With its recent $1.3 billion modernization project, the San Jose International Airport (SJC) is now one of the country’s leading green airports, with environmentally sustainable practices and infrastructure. A few of the ways the Airport is leading by Green example include:

• LEED Silver certification of the newly renovated Terminal B
• Use of natural light thereby reducing electrical demand, along with “smart” heating, cooling and ventilation systems which run more efficiently, saving energy while providing customer comfort
• Easy Light Rail, train and shuttles options from the Airport to Downtown San Jose and around the Bay Area
• Consolidation of the new rental car center, resulting in a reduction in traffic, emissions and congestion on Airport roadways. Additionally, the center’s 1- megawatt solar power roof provides approximately 30%of the electrical needs of the structure
• Conversion from diesel to compressed natural gas (CNG) of the entire shuttle fleet, reducing the emissions by nearly 100 tons annually compared to 2001 levels
• Implementation of conversion incentive programs resulting in approximately 1/3 of all taxi trips to and from the Airport taking place in alternative-fuel vehicles