UBS Arena, home to the NHL’s New York Islanders, has been awarded Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification by the U.S. Green Building Council. Located on the historic grounds of Belmont Park, the entertainment and sports venue opened in November 2021 and is owned by the Oak View Group (OVG).
“We are excited that UBS Arena was awarded LEED certification. This acknowledgement highlights the dedication we put forth in its efforts to be environmentally conscious when designing and constructing our venue,” said Kim Stone, president of UBS Arena and executive vice president of OVG East Coast. “As a founding member of GOAL (Green Operations & Advanced Leadership) and the first OVG-owned and -operated venue to achieve this prestigious certification, we’re proud that UBS Arena is at the forefront of sustainability.”
UBS Arena achieved LEED certification for implementing practical and measurable strategies and solutions in areas including sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality. Green buildings allow companies to operate more sustainably and give the people inside them a healthier, more comfortable space to work and play. LEED certification is proof that buildings are going above and beyond to ensure the space is designed and constructed to the highest level of sustainability.
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Key focal points and strategies used to achieve this certification include:
- UBS Arena’s high performance is specifically designed to reduce energy costs. UBS Arena uses heat recovery technology, LED lighting, high-performance glass, and other efficient design practices to reduce energy by over 15%. In operations, this will be continuously tracked and validated through GOAL program.
- The venue provides dedicated recycling stations to minimize the building’s operation waste stream by diverting glass, metal, paper, cardboard, and plastic from landfills.
- The venue is designed to reduce indoor potable water use by over 40% with the installation of low-flow and flush-and-flow fixtures.
- UBS Arena uses all environmentally friendly cleaning products. This puts less stress on the local water system and promotes a healthy ecosystem.
- The building provides air quality exceeding the ASHRAE 62.1-2010 standard to provide comfort and well-being for occupants, including the use of MERV13 air filters.
- UBS Arena’s location and proximity to local transit services for guests and visitors helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.
- Native plants and high-efficiency irrigation strategies help reduce the arena’s outdoor water consumption by over 50%, saving water and promoting healthy ecosystems with local habitat restoration.
- The shade trees and site landscape provide multiple benefits like combating the urban heat island effect, reducing rainwater run-off, promoting habitats through healthy ecosystems, and creating opportunities to connect with nature.
More info on the arena’s sustainability initiatives is available here.