American Airlines Arena
The AmericanAirlines Arena, Miami's top sports and entertainment venue and home of the 2006 & 2012 NBA Champion Miami HEAT, was awarded LEED Certification for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) in April 2009. The AmericanAirlines Arena was one of the first two arenas in the country to receive this prestigious designation by the USGBC.
What is Leed Certification?
LEED is the USGBC's rating system for designing and constructing the world's greenest and most energy-efficient high performing buildings.
Why is this important?
LEED Certification makes smart environmental and business sense. It affirms the Arena's commitment to sustainable building operations, and we chose to invest in the USGBC's LEED Certification as a testament to that commitment. We hope to raise awareness of the green building movement within the City of Miami and the sports and entertainment industry, as well among the 1.4 million visitors who attend special events at AmericanAirlines Arena each year.
How did we get Leed Certified?
The AmericanAirlines Arena, originally built in 1999, used the LEED for Existing Buildings Rating System as a road map to achieve the coveted certification. The Operations & Maintenance Rating System is a set of voluntary performance standards for the sustainable ongoing operation of buildings. It includes a number green design and construction features that positively impact the project itself and the broader community. For AmericanAirlines Arena, some of these features include:
Green roofing materials: The Arena's solar reflective index is high enough that it reflects heat and reduces the energy needed to cool the building.
Energy consumption: The Arena was built without a chilled water plant, which requires a lot of energy. Therefore, there is much less energy consumption, as the Arena's chilled water comes from an off-site source.
Water-efficient landscaping: All plants are high to medium drought resistant, and a "drip and soak" irrigation system (micro irrigation) runs under the surface, delivering water directly to the roots and minimizing the amount of water evaporated by the sun.
Underground parking: Reduces heat-trapping asphalt, which is known to cause a "heat-island effect" and releases heat back into the atmosphere.
Walk-off carpets: Trap dirt and contamination of Arena guests to improve overall indoor air quality.
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