WALTHAM, MA (CelebrityAccess) – Waltham, Massachusetts’ new, state-of-the-art multipurpose Bentley Arena has earned the LEED platinum certification, the highest possible rating for an environmentally sustainable venue, according to the US Green Building Council.
The 76,000 ft2 space, which is located on the Bentley University campus, is the first standalone ice arena to receive the honor and was awarded on the basis of the building’s sustainable design and energy efficiency.
Bentley University President Gloria Cordes Larson said: “This first-in-the-nation rating for the Bentley Arena demonstrates Bentley’s strong and longstanding commitment to sustainability.
“From our university-wide commitment to achieving carbon neutrality by 2030, to our Sustainability Science major for students, to our campus waste reduction programme that recycles more than 270 tons of material per year, Bentley acts every day on our mission of preparing environmentally conscious, socially responsible leaders.”
Bentley Arena’s sustainable features include:
- A 504 kilowatt, rooftop solar array developed by Rivermoor Energy that will generate 40 percent of the building’s annual electricity needs.
- Innovative technology that captures heat generated from the rink’s ice-making equipment to heat water throughout the building.
- More glass windows than a typical arena, allowing for more natural light that decreases the amount of electricity needed to light the building’s interior.
- High-efficiency LED lighting with smart, motion-detecting controls that turn off lights when no one is present to sharply reduce electricity usage.
- Ice-making and air conditioning systems that use zero CFC-based refrigerants. Chlorofluorocarbons or “CFCs” have been found to destroy the planet’s stratospheric ozone layer.
- The highest-efficiency plumbing fixtures on the market, including waterless urinals, dual-flush toilets, and low-flow faucets and showers to reduce the demand for water.
- At least 50% of wood used in the building is sourced from forests with certified sustainable forestry practices
- About 10% of construction and finish materials were locally sourced and about 20% of construction and finish materials contain recycled content.
