The Oncenter Complex, a multi-venue exhibition, convention and entertainment facility in Syracuse, N.Y., is a leader in the meeting and convention industry in implementing green practices, using eco-friendly products and hosting environmental conferences. The Complex’s goal is to reduce energy costs and have a positive impact on the environment. The Oncenter Complex includes the Nicholas J. Pirro Convention Center at Oncenter, War Memorial Arena at Oncenter and John H. Mulroy Civic Center Theaters at Oncenter
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle 
The Oncenter Complex uses eco-friendly products and practices throughout the facilities to promote sustainability:
- All sales support materials are printed on recycled paper.
- All office/printer/copier paper is 100 percent recycled post-consumer fiber.
- Trash liners, tissue paper, toilet paper and inkjet cartridges are made of recycled and post-consumer materials.
- Restroom soap dispensers contain mild, biodegradable foam soap certified by Green Seal®.
- Leftover food scraps are composted.
- A new carpet that meets LEED® standards was installed in the ballroom.
- Working with the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency to revamp current recycling and composting plan.
Green Policies and Procedures
- Implemented Johnson Diversey’s Healthy High Performance Cleaning program to select products and enact procedures that are less harmful to the environment when cleaning the facility. These programs also expose building occupants, visitors and housekeeping personnel to fewer health risks and foster improved indoor environments.
- Formed the Oncenter “Green Team” to actively engage employees in improving the Oncenter’s commitment to environmental quality and sustainability
Energy Conservation
In support of the Onondaga County Energy Initiative, the Oncenter Complex reduced its kilowatt-hours usage per year by nearly 30 percent from 2003 to 2007:
- Installed occupancy sensors in rooms and closets.
- Installed the latest lighting and dimming systems on all lighting fixtures, ballasts and lamps.
- AutoFlusher adapters were installed on restroom fixtures in the Convention Center and War Memorial Arena.
- Installed energy-efficient Electrolux air-o-system®combi-therm kitchen ovens and chillers.
- Upgraded and improved overall capabilities of computerized Energy Management System (EMS) for interior and exterior HVAC and lighting systems.
- Installed a new natural gas engine ice rink compressor with heat recovery in the War Memorial Area. Heat from the engine is reclaimed to heat the domestic hot water system and sections of the Convention Center.
- Theatrical lighting will be replaced with high-efficiency lighting.
- Electric hand dryers will be installed in all restrooms in the Convention Center and War Memorial Arena to reduce paper waste.
Involvement
- Participant in Accelerate 2008
- Partner of the Greater Syracuse Chamber of Commerce Green Meeting City Task Force
Green Conferences
- Accelerate 2008 (April 30, 2008)
- Sustainably Energizing New York’s Creative Core (July 17-18, 2008)
- Go Green Initiative Earth Summit (Oct. 17-18, 2008)
- 7th Annual Green Building Conference & Seminar on Green and Sustainable Schools II (March 2009)
- The International Society for Indoor Air Quality (ISIAQ) Healthy Buildings Conference (Sept. 13-17, 2009)
Syracuse Goes Green
- Recipient of a GreeningUSA “Sustaining Our Community” Community Advocacy Award (April 2008)
- 17th on Popular Science List of America’s 50 Greenest Cities (February 2008)
- “Go Green Large City of the Year” at the Go Green Initiative Earth Summit in San Jose, Calif. (2007)
- 17th on National Geographic List of Top Green Cities in the United of Top Green Cities in the United States (2006)