The Grass is Greener at the Comcast Arena Everett with our ongoing efforts to reduce our environmental impact by conserving energy, recycling and composting to reduce the venue’s overall carbon footprint.
Recycling
Partnering with Centerplate, to change all concession containers to 100% biodegradable materials including switching to wooden stir sticks, corn-based straws and wax-coated compostable paper cups.
Bottles and cans are now recycled via single stream recycling of tin, aluminum, glass and plastic bottles and cans with bins located throughout the Arena, Conference Center and Comcast Community Ice Rink.
Administration offices participate with paper recycling, and office paper products ordered are more than 80% recycled.
Planet Power
Green Power Purchases are made monthly from Snohomish County Public Utilities District. Green power is energy generated from renewable resources, generated by a renewable source such as wind or sunlight, with minimal impact to the environment in a process creating little or no pollution.
Energy Conservation
In 2005, Global Spectrum initiated a heat reclaim project to reduce heating needs for the Comcast Community Ice Rink. Heat created by the refrigeration of the ice and expelled through the roof of the ice plant is reclaimed and run across air handlers to heat the ambient air in the Ice Rink resulting in a reduction of energy usage of 32,000 therms per year.
In 2007, a retrofit was completed to reduce electricity use in the rink by 50%. High efficiency T-5 lamps replaced 80 four-watt HID light fixtures with the assistance of a Snohomish County Public Utilities District energy grant.
Lighting in meeting rooms and bathrooms throughout the building are on timers to reduce energy consumption.
Fluorescent light recycling to minimize mercury in the environment is done through Snohomish County Public Works Solid Waste Management including 412 bulbs in March 2008.
Cleaning
Venue partners Cleanevent have switched to bio-based cleaning products and recycled content mops with 100% of cotton and polyester content coming from reclaimed post-consumer PET (soda/water bottles). They are making the switch on floor and carpet cleaning and changing to green-certified equipment for better quality air.
Sustainable Food
Food service provider Centerplate’s mission statement: “To showcase and assist in sustaining and growing the agriculture and wine industries of Snohomish County by incorporating local ingredients in our recipes and suggesting and pouring local wines”. Centerplate is dedicated to using locally grown organic produce and supporting the area’s agricultural industries in Washington state.
The kitchen and concession cooking oil is recycled in partnership with Standard Biodiesel of Arlington, WA to create bio-diesel. Biodiesel is the clean burning alternative fuel that is produced when glycerin is separated from fat or vegetable oil. The process leaves two products – methyl esters (biodiesel) and glycerin (a valuable byproduct sold to be used in soaps and other products).
The Edward D. Hansen Conference Center’s use of paper products is virtually non-existent with all events utilizing glass, silverware and linens.
Bulk dispensing of condiments throughout the Conference Center and Arena Concession areas.
Composting
Cedar Grove Composting organic waste program was launched in the kitchen resulting in a significant reduction of waste. Food scraps, food-soiled paper including pizza boxes, plant and wood (pallet) scraps including landscaping clippings.
Earth Hour
In 2008, Global Spectrum at the Comcast Arena at Everett joined other facilities and cities around the world by turning off non-essential lights for just one hour – Earth Hour – to show that it’s possible to take action on global warming. Earth Hour originated as an event promoted by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Australia, which asked households and businesses to turn off their lights and non-essential electrical appliances for one hour to promote electricity conservation to lower carbon emissions. Earth Hour uses the simple action of turning off the lights for one hour to deliver a powerful message about the need for action on global warming.
Participating again in 2009, Global Spectrum will power down the Comcast Arena at Everett's exterior lighting including roof, building perimeter and mast lights.
These ‘green initiatives’ are part of Global Spectrum’s STEP UP (Global Spectrum Total Environmental Plan) Program, a commitment to the community’s we serve to seek and implement new elements for conserving energy, reducing consumption and recycling.
What’s next?
LEED-EB Certification
The Comcast Arena at Everett is seeking LEED Certification for Existing Buildings (LEED-EB). The LEED for Existing Buildings is an Operations and Maintenance Rating System to help business owners and operators measure operations, improvements and maintenance on a consistent scale, with the goal of maximizing environmental impacts.