Climate Pledge Arena declared first arena in world to attain new zero carbon certification

The home of NHL’s Seattle Kraken, the Climate Pledge Arena in Seattle, just announced a major win for the environment.

As of Oct. 13, 2023, it became the first arena ever to receive zero carbon certification from the International Living Future Institute (ILFI).

Receiving certification from the ILFI, a leading nonprofit environmental organization with rigorous agreements and standards, is no easy feat. Only a handful of other buildings — none of which are sports or entertainment venues — have become zero carbon certified. According to the ILFI website, the organization’s mission is “a society that is socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative.”

The organization has assessed thousands of products and hundreds of projects across the globe.

ILFI zero carbon certification

In order for a building to qualify for ILFI’s zero carbon certification, it must maintain energy efficiency, significantly reduce their carbon footprint and offset any remaining carbon or energy use with renewable energy. This includes emissions relating to construction and materials.

“Our Zero Carbon Certification recognizes highly energy efficient buildings that are designed and operated to fully account for their carbon emissions impacts,” stated ILFI CEO Lindsay Baker in a joint press release with the arena. “This is a significant undertaking, especially for as large and complex a project as Climate Pledge Arena. We are thrilled to see the arena become the first arena to achieve this.”

Climate Pledge Arena had to supply extensive documentation and an entire year’s worth of performance data to be reviewed for certification, according to the press release.

Climate Pledge Arena’s new energy

So, how did Climate Pledge Arena secure this elusive achievement?

It was a layered effort, requiring many changes and several companies. The arena eliminated all fossil fuels from the venue and switched operations to 100% renewable energy. Electricity for the building is generated through solar panels on the roof and parking garage, and supplemental energy is supplied through the Lower Snake River wind farm and other sources, according to the press release.

All plans for natural gas usage in the building were converted to electric, including the heating and dehumidification systems and the Zamboni.

The Climate Pledge Arena also tracks, measures and offsets all carbon emitted from the building, according to the press release. It further embraced sustainability by offering free public transit with every ticket and eliminating single-use plastics in products for fans.

Climate Pledge & Arena promise

The arena’s naming rights were bought by Amazon in June 2020, one year after the company announced “The Climate Pledge” alongside Global Optimism, encouraging businesses to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2040. As a reminder, Amazon named it Climate Pledge Arena.

The venue is owned by Oak View Group, along with nearly a dozen other major venues across the country. With the arena’s name change, Oak View Group partnered with Amazon and the Seattle Kraken in setting a first-of-its-kind goal, to be the first arena to achieve net zero carbon.

“Despite remarkable obstacles, today we celebrate this achievement for Climate Pledge Arena and the entire industry,” stated Tim Leiweke, CEO of Oak View Group, in the press release.