Tuesday, July 14, 2009

Going Green...Energy Saving Convention Center


The center had 237-booths that fit 2,500-people. The Melbourne Exhibition Center was home to the 2009 Australia Tourism Exchange, the largest convention of its kind. It was the first convention there before the grand opening of the center’s extension.

The $1 billion development brought versatility to the 323,000-square-foot Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Center, making it Australia’s largest convention space. Additions include 32 new meeting rooms, a grand ballroom and a 5,000-seat plenary hall that can be divided into three self-contained theaters.

The Center has booked 50 major international conventions beginning with the International Geomorphology Convention in July and including the Parliament of World Religions in 2010 and the World Diabetes Congress in 2013.

Its unique feature is its unheard of six-star energy rating design. Some of those features include solar hot-water systems offsetting more than 40 percent of the energy used on water heaters, a black-water treatment plant that collects rain and waste water to be used in toilet flushing and irrigation, and the use of an environmentally friendly Forest Stewardship Council-certified, sustainable timber.

Not only is the Convention Center friendly to the environment, but also to the people it hosts. Pipes in the concrete floor carry water that heats or cools the ground creating a comfortable temperature, while carbon dioxide monitors integrated into the air conditioning, along with the use of carpets, paints and adhesives low in Volatile Organic Compounds to ensure better air quality.

Here a few more tidbits about how their convention center is so environmentally friendly I just took this from their website which is very user friendly:

Energy

  • Displacement ventilation - low level air delivery and high level air exhaust in the plenary hall and foyer areas provide effective air flow with high indoor air quality at low energy consumption
  • Expansive glass facade allows availability of natural light to the foyer and pre-function spaces. This reduces the need for artificial light and provides good thermal qualities in the winter months
  • Solar hot water systems can offset more than 40 per cent of general hot water requirements and can provide 100 per cent of public amenity hot water requirements
  • Light fittings have been selected and positioned in order to minimize resource and energy consumption. For example, energy efficient lighting is design with daylight and motion detection control features

Water

  • A black water treatment plant collects building wastewater and some stormwater to provide treated water for toilet flushing, irrigation and cooling towers
  • Water efficient fixtures and fittings, including urinals that use a chemical system rather than a water flush

Indoor Environment Quality

  • Radiant slab heating and cooling in the foyer (with pipes in the concrete floor carrying hot or cold water to heat or cool the slab) provides a more comfortable internal environment with good thermal comfort levels
  • Carbon dioxide monitoring and control is part of air conditioning systems and ensures fresh air is continually delivered to the convention center
  • Enhanced indoor air quality as a result of carpets, paints, adhesives and sealants that are low in Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and the use of low emission building materials

Also, here is a link to watch a 5:45 video about the center and the area that it is in. This a place and country I would love to be able to do a site visit to.

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