On Saturday November 20, 2010, not only will the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium (1610 West Church Street, Orlando, FL 32805) host the Florida Classic between Bethune-Cookman and Florida A&M, they will also host an "Eco-Magination" Treasure Hunt from 11am - 1pm. Not open to the public. Teams of City employees and GE technical experts will be hunting behind-the-scenes at the stadium for “treasure" aka opportunities to save energy, reduce waste, save money and lower carbon emissions. The teams will comb the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium from top to bottom, looking for excess lighting, air leaks, inefficient generators and other opportunities to increase efficiency.
Developed by GE, based on a model from Toyota, the ecomagination Treasure Hunt is an action-oriented discovery process that brings together site employees with external technical experts to investigate a facility’s resource consumption and recommend projects to maximize efficiency. GE has conducted more than 200 Treasure Hunts internally, resulting in $150 million in savings.
This is the second of two ecomagination Treasure Hunts hosted by GE, the City of Orlando, and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) as part of a nationwide pilot project that includes multiple public and private facilities. The first Orlando event, performed at the Conserv II Wastewater Treatment Facility identified opportunities for $177,000 in annual energy savings – equal to 11% of its annual energy costs. The suggested improvements would have a two-year payback, leading to emissions reductions of more than 2,400 metric tons annually.
The ecomagination Treasure Hunts are just one component of the City of Orlando’s partnership with GE. In September 2010, the Orlando City Council approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with GE that will help create local “green” jobs and save residents and businesses money with more energy efficient homes and offices. The City of Orlando is one of a handful of cities across the country with which GE is currently partnering to develop business-based solutions to meet communities’ sustainability goals.
During the first phase, GE will provide technical assistance with the creation of the city of Orlando's first Sustainability Action Plan. The other main components of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) include:
GREENWORKS ORLANDO:
The City’s GreenWorks Orlando program is aimed at protecting our natural resources, encouraging environmentally-friendly lifestyles and business practices and engaging everyone who lives, works and visits Central Florida in the effort to “go green.” GreenWorks Orlando focuses on immediate and dramatic actions to conserve natural resources and protect the environment, including investing in green buildings, vehicles and materials and working together as a community to combat the urgent global climate threat.
CITRUS BOWL BACKGROUND:
The City just completed $10 million in the first phase of planned enhancements at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium just in time for the annual 2010 Florida Classic football game. Improvements included structural work, lighting and technology that will allow the Citrus Bowl to remain competitive in attracting world-class events and Bowl Games. Currently, the stadium is home to the annual Capital One and Champs Sports Bowls, Florida Classic Bethune-Cookman vs. Florida A&M football game and other events.
Developed by GE, based on a model from Toyota, the ecomagination Treasure Hunt is an action-oriented discovery process that brings together site employees with external technical experts to investigate a facility’s resource consumption and recommend projects to maximize efficiency. GE has conducted more than 200 Treasure Hunts internally, resulting in $150 million in savings.
This is the second of two ecomagination Treasure Hunts hosted by GE, the City of Orlando, and Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) as part of a nationwide pilot project that includes multiple public and private facilities. The first Orlando event, performed at the Conserv II Wastewater Treatment Facility identified opportunities for $177,000 in annual energy savings – equal to 11% of its annual energy costs. The suggested improvements would have a two-year payback, leading to emissions reductions of more than 2,400 metric tons annually.
The ecomagination Treasure Hunts are just one component of the City of Orlando’s partnership with GE. In September 2010, the Orlando City Council approved a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with GE that will help create local “green” jobs and save residents and businesses money with more energy efficient homes and offices. The City of Orlando is one of a handful of cities across the country with which GE is currently partnering to develop business-based solutions to meet communities’ sustainability goals.
During the first phase, GE will provide technical assistance with the creation of the city of Orlando's first Sustainability Action Plan. The other main components of the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) include:
Orlando will serve as a pilot community for new products or GE programs,The partnership will expand the City’s GreenWorks Orlando program and provide the community with GE expertise, innovative technology and assistance that will help solve local energy challenges and give residents early access to pilot programs and products.
Exploring the development of a community-wide commercial retrofit program,
Exploring partnerships relating to grant opportunities,
Exploring opportunities to assist local businesses and clean technology companies with an interest in global business growth to expand internationally, and
Exploring smart grid partnerships with Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC) and electric vehicles.
GREENWORKS ORLANDO:
The City’s GreenWorks Orlando program is aimed at protecting our natural resources, encouraging environmentally-friendly lifestyles and business practices and engaging everyone who lives, works and visits Central Florida in the effort to “go green.” GreenWorks Orlando focuses on immediate and dramatic actions to conserve natural resources and protect the environment, including investing in green buildings, vehicles and materials and working together as a community to combat the urgent global climate threat.
CITRUS BOWL BACKGROUND:
The City just completed $10 million in the first phase of planned enhancements at the Florida Citrus Bowl Stadium just in time for the annual 2010 Florida Classic football game. Improvements included structural work, lighting and technology that will allow the Citrus Bowl to remain competitive in attracting world-class events and Bowl Games. Currently, the stadium is home to the annual Capital One and Champs Sports Bowls, Florida Classic Bethune-Cookman vs. Florida A&M football game and other events.