The Anaheim Convention Center attained LEED Gold by scoring high in sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, indoor environmental quality and environmentally friendly practices.

“The Anaheim Convention Center is the West Coast’s premier gathering place with world-class facilities and neighboring attractions to match in the Anaheim Resort District,” said Tom Morton, executive director of Convention, Sports and Entertainment for the city of Anaheim. “When groups come here, they have peace of mind in knowing they are in one of the industry’s most sustainable convention centers.”

Opened in 1967, the Anaheim Convention Center has demonstrated a history of environmentally sustainable practices, including installation of more than 7,900 solar panels covering 300,000 square-feet of the center’s roof and generating an estimated 3.6 million kilowatt hours of electricity annually.

Other sustainable features include:

• A Green Zone recycling and composting area that turns kitchen food scraps into nutrient-rich compost used throughout the Anaheim Resort District.
• A water and energy conservation program including low-flow equipment, compact fluorescents, LEDs and energy-efficient materials throughout the facility.
• Use of non-toxic cleaners and environmentally friendly products.
• Nearly 75 percent of waste generated is diverted from landfills each year.

The Anaheim Convention Center continues its commitment to sustainability and high-performance spaces with construction of the center’s seventh expansion, set to complete in 2017.

The expansion will add 200,000 square-feet of flexible meeting space, allowing the Anaheim Convention Center to grow with its biggest shows and meet industry demands for space that can serve a variety of functions, including specialized conferences, break-out sessions, workshops and galas.

With an additional 200,000 square-feet of leasable space and a 10,000-square-foot terrace, the expansion will overlook Katella Avenue and the Disneyland Resort, including nightly fireworks at Disneyland Park.

Other features include 25-foot ceilings, 1,350 parking spaces, a climate-controlled pedestrian bridge connection to the center’s existing exhibit halls, new loading docks and improved vehicle flow.

Hosting more than 1 million attendees a year, the Anaheim Convention Center is a vital part of Anaheim’s visitor industry and plays a critical role supporting city services for residents, businesses and visitors.

For more on the Anaheim Convention Center, see Anaheim.Net/ConventionCenter.

For more on LEED and the U.S. Green Building Council, visit USGBC.org.