Sustainability

In an effort to build a greener future, UBS Arena works closely with world-class sustainability experts McLennan Design and Environ to minimize the environmental impact of the venue.

Proud Supporter

Sustainable Brilliance & Community Resilience

Rooted in community and environmental impact, our beautiful home is an inspiring example of how values become actions:

  •  Nourishing our neighborhood We sow the seeds of community growth, using shared moments to ignite a passion for positive change
  •  Protecting Our Planet We prioritize our planet’s future through strategic investments in sustainable operations
  • Inspiring Our Industry We pioneer sustainability standards that act as a catalyst for forging impacful partnerships

CURRENT INITIATIVES

  • UBS Arena is a LEED v4 Certified venue. Read more below on how we achieved this international symbol of excellence. 
  • UBS Arena has achieved carbon neutrality for all scope 1 and 2 emissions from operations. By purchasing carbon and renewable energy credits, the arena has reached this milestone 2 years ahead of schedule. Read more about our carbon and renewable energy offsets below.
  • UBS Arena- Elmont Long Island Rail Road Station now provides two-way service (Westbound & Eastbound) for event attendees. The arena’s climate-smart transportation strategy has taken over 55,836 cars off the road, with more to come. 

POWER & ENERGY

  • The arena uses occupancy sensor technology to ensure that lights within the building are off when unused. 
  • The arena is lit 100% by LED lighting.
  • Appliances within the building are Energy Star Certified.
  • The arena uses electric Olympia ice resurfacers.

WATER CONSERVATION

  • UBS Arena reduces water consumption by 40% as standard to other buildings of its size for typical use by using low flow plumbing, aligned to LEED Standards.

PLASTIC, RECYCLABLES, & WASTE

  • In all guest-facing locations, the arena offers two waste streams of recycling & composting. We are working closely with waste hauling partner Winters Bros.
  • UBS Arena has a LEED-certified green integrated pest management plan & green cleaning policy.
  • Currently, 100% of our “landfill” waste stream is diverted to a Covanta Resource Recovery Plant.
    • The Resource Recovery Plant uses state-of-the-art technology to convert the trash into fuel that creates electrical energy, which is fed into the local power grid for Long Island residents.
  • Our recycling and compost waste streams are sent to American Recycling Management in Jamaica, NY.
    • Metals, cardboard, and compostable products are turned into valuable resources with multiple uses.
  • Our glass waste is recycled at EWG Glass Recovery in Jamaica, NY, where it is recycled into new bottles.

FOOD WASTE

  • Partnering with the building concessionaire, Delaware North, unused food from both the front and back of the house is distributed to local organizations after events, like St. John’s United Methodist Church in Valley Stream.

FOOD & NUTRITION

  • The arena targets the following goals to supply sustainable, local, and healthy foods:
    • Source 75% of most food ingredients within a 300-mile radius based on seasonality 
    • Produce is certified USDA Organic, where applicable
    • 100% eggs from cage-free hens
    • Seafood meets Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Sustainable Seafood Watch rating
    • Antibiotic and hormone-free proteins, where applicable
    • Grass-fed beef, where applicable
    • Plant-based proteins include vegan and vegetarian offerings
    • Heart-healthy oils
    • No trans fats or high-fructose corn syrup, where applicable
    • Foods with minimized saturated fat added sugar and sodium

FAN ENGAGement
& education

  • We are committed to being a global leader in fan engagement around sustainability.
  • The arena hosts sustainability activations at the building.
  • Other community and fan programs incentivize and promote sustainable lifestyles like the benefits of low-carbon transportation, healthy diets, and physical activity.
  • Dedicated sustainability game days on or near Earth Day and NHL Green month.
  • Other sustainability game days throughout the season focus on carbon reductions, transportation, healthy food, etc.
  • UBS Arena is a member of the Green Sports Alliance.
 

CARBON REDUCTION FEE

  • To help us achieve our overall ambitions, a 3.5% Carbon Reduction Fee is applied to all food & beverage purchases at UBS Arena concession stands and individual purchases in premium clubs. This is in effect for all events at UBS Arena, excluding New York Islanders hockey games.

UPCOMING INItiATIVES

  • UBS Arena is a Founding Circle Member of GOAL (Green Operations and Advanced Leadership). The GOAL program provides venues with clear guidelines to minimize negative environmental impact while amplifying social impact. 
  • Select arena campus shuttles on-site from the parking lots are powered by electricity. 
  • Electric vehicle charging stations will be available in Belmont Park Garage by the middle of 2024. 

LONG TERM AMBITION

  • UBS Arena aims to become a zero waste venue, diverting at least 90% of waste from landfill by the end of 2023. 
  • The arena is exploring on-site solar generation as part of the arena’s future overall renewable energy plan. 

LEED CERTIFICATION

UBS Arena was awarded LEED Certified status in January 2023, a little over a year after opening to the public. LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), is the most widely used green building rating system in the world.

We have implemented practical and measurable strategies and solutions in areas including sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality:

  • 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.
  • 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 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

ABOUT OUR
CARBON CREDITS

UBS Arena has elected to offset all Scope 1 emissions for an initial period of five years with carbon offset products. All carbon offsets were selected following an exhaustive review of choices and based on a number of important criteria.  Ultimately, two domestic improved forestry management projects were chosen.  Both are certified and validated independently by the American Carbon Registry.

  • The Doe Mountain Improved Forest Management Project is located on over 8,500 acres of forestland in the Blue Ridge Mountains of eastern Tennessee. By committing to maintain forest CO2 stocks above the regional common practice, the project will provide significant climate benefits through carbon sequestration.
  • The Middlebury Improved Forest Management Project at Middlebury College, one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States, has pledged to achieve carbon neutrality each year. As part of this commitment, the college built a biomass gasification plant and installed solar and wind facilities to reduce reliance on traditional fuel sources and cut carbon emissions. In addition to these efforts, Bluesource and Middlebury launched an Improved Forest Management project on over 2,500 acres of forest in the Green Mountains of central Vermont. Middlebury retains a portion of the credits generated for its neutrality commitment while the balance is offered to voluntary market buyers, like the UBS Arena.  The project ensures the long-term conservation and sustainable management of the forest, promotes healthy wildlife habitat and prevents future compromise of the forest carbon stocks.

UBS Arena works closely with world-class sustainability experts McLennan Design and Environ to minimize the environmental impact of the venue.