We're Serious about Sustainability

• With 2,000 solar panels on the roof, our 500kW solar array is the second-largest convention center solar array in the U.S. They produce the amount of energy equal to the approximate annual energy use of 100 homes in N.C.
• Lighting 
  • High bay motion-sensor LEDs in the 45k ft2 underground delivery area reduce energy use by~18,480W/day.
  • We switched the lightbulbs in the 150k ft2 exhibit hall to LED lights in 2015. Before the switch, we changed ~170 lightbulbs/year. This reduced energy use and maintenance by 318,230W/day.
• HVAC System 
  • Our efficient HVAC system reduces energy by 20% and is connected to our booking system which controls temperature for occupied/ unoccupied areas, providing a savings of nearly $15,000/year.

• The facility cooling tower is supplemented by a natural flowing river under the venue, reducing water usage by 25,000 gallons/day.
• On-demand water heaters have a 98% efficiency rating.
• Low-flow toilets and timed faucets provide a 39% reduction in water.
• We offer free purified cold and hot water throughout the center, which minimizes demand for bottled water, which we are phasing out for a canned or boxed alternative.

• The gardens at the Raleigh Convention Center and Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts are planted and maintained by the City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation Department. Staff from both venues also volunteered in the planting of the new garden on Lichtin Plaza at the Martin Marietta Center for the Performing Arts, which was installed on September 18, 2019.
• The Raleigh Convention Center's gardens are irrigation- and fertilizer-free. Their design was meant to mimic a dry river bed and features rocks taken from a variety of City of Raleigh parks.
• Thanks to the success and health of the garden, a number of plants grown in the Raleigh Convention Center's planters have been moved to the city’s greenhouse to propagate new plants for other City parks.
• Both gardens feature perennials that bloom at various times of the year. The Lichtin Plaza garden incorporates nearly 175 different types of grasses, nearly all native to North Carolina. These include 70 muhly grasses (Muhlenbergia ‘White Cloud’), 70 fountain grasses (Pennisetum ‘Karley Rose’) and 35 switch grasses (Panicum ‘Heavy Metal’). Some will grow to be 5' tall!
• Throughout the year, the foliage in the Lichtin Plaza garden will showcase pinks, whites, and blues. 

• We kicked off the first of its kind “Share a Meal” program, where clients can purchase extra meals to be matched by Sodexo Live! and then donated to the Central and Eastern Food Bank of North Carolina.
• We are proud of our 40% average landfill diversion rate. Through composting with Raleigh-based CompostNow, we have diverted hundreds of thousands of pounds of food from the landfill since Fall of 2017.
• The compost is then donated to Camden Street Learning Garden, which is operated by the Inter-faith Food Shuttle, a local nonprofit dedicated to ending hunger.
• China is our default service but, when clients request single-service items, we provide 100% biodegradable products that biodegrade in under 180 days.     
• Used cooking oil is converted to biofuel.
• Eggs in all forms are sourced from cage-free producers and milk is hormone-free.
• We are committed to using at least 10% of NC local, seasonal food products.
• We utilize Ecolab products, a top-ranking company on the Global 500 Green Rankings List for biodegradable and environmentally safe products.
• Our catering menu contains over 200 vegetarian items, 50+ vegan items, and 100+ gluten-free items. Our concession stands also feature vegetarian options, including the Beyond Burger.
• Hydroponic gardens on site to test feasibility of large-scale hydroponics in-house.

We're proud to participate in a number of additional green initiatives, including the following:

• Along with the City of Raleigh, the RCC has joined an international Lights Out effort by implementing a citywide initiative to protect migratory birds by turning off non-essential lighting in City facilities each night to prevent the potential for migratory bird collisions with buildings.
• Conveniently located to six bus lines and within walking distance of the GoRaleigh Station
• Mixed recycling bins located throughout the facility
• Use of Green Seal-certified chemicals for 95% of cleaning products
• 100% organic pest management system
• Use of Low-VOC carpeting, adhesives, and paint sealants
• Implementation of an Air Quality Management Plan
• EV charging station in parking deck
• Outdoor Big Belly solar-powered trash compactor
• Use of electric golf carts

• The location was formerly a car dealership and, during construction, was discovered to be the site of a coal gasification plant from the late 1800s/early 1900s, making it a brownfield site.
• 100% of the 350 tons steel used in the construction of our building is recycled.
• Defunct cell phone towers were repurposed as support beams for our facility.
• Over 75% of the 9,512 tons of construction and demolition debris was diverted from landfills and incinerators.
• The tan brick used in building is mined and manufactured from Charlotte, minimizing transportation costs.