The Spectrum Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, certainly lives up to its name when it comes to an environmental agenda. Home of the NBA’s Hornets, the arena stands as a center for a broad spectrum of sustainability initiatives.
One of the first major green initiatives targeted for the arena was recycling and waste management. In 2015 — the year before its home building was rebranded from the Time Warner Cable Arena to the Spectrum Center — the Hornets teamed up with the city of Charlotte and the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority to develop and implement a wide-ranging recycling plan. Before the effort, the facility really was not involved in trash recycling.
“With hundreds of thousands of patrons passing through our doors each year, it is important for us to understand the impact our waste has on the environment,” Donna Julian, Spectrum Center general manager, told Natur-Blog. “Through the addition of recycling and composting, we have been able to significantly cut down the amount of waste coming out of our building.”
Photo Courtesy NBA
A six-month waste management study helped to focus the arena’s action plan. A system was developed that assigned specific vendors to collect food scraps, grease, corrugated items, pallets, and shredded paper. Simultaneously, Waste Management, who was already working with the venue, took on handling the removal of aluminum and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastics.
Julian credited all involved with the venue’s success with recycling, exclaiming: “From our food and beverage partner to our janitorial staff, to the companies that help us with recycling and combustion, having each group play its part has been critical to our early success.”
The Spectrum Center has continued to evolve its recycling and waste management efforts over the years.
In 2020, the Hornets brought aboard the nationally known Waste Pro USA to provide solid waste collection at the arena.
In 2022, the team extended its partnership with Coca-Cola that included a sustainability program, bolstering recycling efforts at the Spectrum Center, such as placing over 150 recycling receptacles for plastic bottles and aluminum cans around the arena. Besides aiming to engage fans to recycle more, the Spectrum Center is also getting its workers more involved with the placement of recycling bins for paper under the desks of all employees.
Photo Courtesy NBA
All of the food service areas at the Spectrum Center now feature earth-friendly bowls, plates, utensils, and napkins. The arena’s kitchens are stocked with free-range organic chicken and grass-fed beef. Additionally, all food items are trans-fat free, while the zero trans-fat fryer oil gets recycled after each use. Moreover, the chemicals in the cleaning supplies are around 85% green or green certified, with the venue aiming to reach the 100% mark.
Water and electricity consumption has not escaped the Spectrum Center’s attention. Water usage, for example, dropped approximately by a third through installing flush valves and low-flow adapters and sensors to bathroom faucets.
Motion sensors were installed in spaces that aren’t used regularly to limit electricity waste, while a low-voltage control system manages all the building lights at the venue.
Similarly, time schedules and photocell controls for external lights provide additional energy conservation. The arena has found other ways to reduce electricity by turning to energy-efficient LED and fluorescent lighting while also switching to lower wattage for its incandescent bulbs.
Photo Courtesy NBA
In 2022, the Spectrum Center announced a major renovation project with a proposed cost of $245 million. Areas mentioned for the renovation included replacing the HVAC systems, improving the bathrooms, and working on the roof.
Although there are not many specifics yet regarding environmental improvements, Ashley Gladney from the Charlotte Regional Visitors Authority (CRVA) said at the 2023 Venues Now Conference that “sustainability is being built into the plans” for any long-term construction at the Spectrum Center.
So, while it is hard to predict what sustainability upgrades this upcoming renovation will bring, one can hope that the Spectrum Center follows in the footsteps of its neighbor, the Charlotte Convention Center. This CRVA-managed building received a Gold Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification for Operations and Maintenance from the U.S. Green Building Council In 2023 following an extensive expansion project.
