New Orleans is experiencing transformative investment in its meeting infrastructure. The LEED-Gold certified Ernest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans’ largest meetings facility is the first convention center in the world to be awarded initial certification under LEED Gold v4.1 O+M.
The NOENMCC recently completed one of the largest energy-saving initiatives ever undertaken in the region, and the largest energy smart program upgrade in New Orleans. Upgrades include replacing 4,000 light fixtures with LEDs, an overhaul of the HVAC systems and a 1.9 million square foot energy-efficient roof is set for full installation by mid-2024.
Two lanes of convention center boulevard traffic were converted to a 7.5-acre, pedestrian park with 200 trees, covered porches, outdoor event spaces, water features, and public art.
To support groups measuring their conference footprint, NOENMCC offers an impact report.
Many New Orleans hotels have partnered with local grass-roots organization, Glass Half Full, to turn glass waste into sand and other materials for various uses.
The Coalition to Restore Coastal Louisiana (CRCL) organizes one of the largest shell recycling programs in the nation collecting oyster shells from nearly 30 New Orleans restaurants and returning them to the water in the form of new oyster shell reefs. To date, the CRCL has recycled over 14 million lbs. of oyster shell and built over 8,000 feet of new reef protecting the shoreline against erosion and promoting a living habitat for sea life.
The CRCL also leads the charge to restore Louisiana’s coastal habitats with the Native Plant Program. Since its inception in 2000, the Native Plant Program has engaged more than 15,000 volunteers and restored more than 4,500 acres of Louisiana coastal wetland.
New Orleans & Company empowers groups to be part of the solution, connecting them with impactful programs like these.