Prague Congress Centre: A place where sustainability is paramount

Sustainable event management: once a trendy futuristic topic has become an industry standard. The comprehensive approach towards sustainability taken by the Prague Congress Centre (PCC) combines positive environmental impact with significant cost-saving benefits – while also serving as an inspiration to other world congress venues, operators and event organisers. PCC is the country’s leading venue for world-class, top-level events that offer attendees and delegates unforgettable experiences in the historic city of Prague. Located near the medieval Vyšehrad Castle, the centre hosts about 200 events a year – from small corporate parties to major international congresses and conferences. The most recent example, the 27^th World Road Congress, was attended by more than 4000 delegates from 117 countries. Operation of the monumental building, with its seventy halls and lounges, requires a lot of energy. But, thanks to the holistic strategy and complex energy management system, it can be run sustainably.

Ambitious strategy and even more ambitious plans

The centre’s original architecture and interior design are popular among admirers of Brutalism and Neo-Functionalism but are simultaneously a challenge for traditional energy-saving measures and modifications – such as facade insulation. Therefore, the PCC chose a more complex strategy. In cooperation with ENESA, the leading Czech provider of EPC (Energy Performance Contracting) solutions, the centre embarked on a program to radically reduce electricity, gas and water consumption. It additionally cut annual energy costs by 40%. The most technologically complex EPC project in the Czech Republic to date is financed by the achieved savings, which are contractually guaranteed by the supplier, ČEZ ESCO Group. The original project plan envisaged savings of €9.8m (USD $10.5m) over ten years and a 30% reduction in energy, gas and water consumption. However, six years into the project, the savings are proving to be significantly higher – €1.226 million per year. In terms of water alone, the centre is saving more than 11,000 cubic metres a year, enough to fill three Olympic swimming pools. “Our uniqueness lies in our comprehensive approach. We have integrated sustainability into the entire spectrum of our operations – from energy management and CO2 reduction to resource efficiency.” Roman Sovják, the centre’s marketing and sales director. “For us, sustainability is not just a buzzword, but a fundamental pillar of our identity and operations. It is the core of our business, but also everyday lives.” This ambitious integrated strategy is bearing fruit.

Modern energy management

One of the key elements of sustainability at PCC is energy management, which includes energy-saving measures in heating, cooling, air conditioning, lighting and digitalisation. State-of-the-art technologies are used to monitor, analyse, and manage just about everything in the building: “Dozens of sensors throughout the building monitor the level of carbon dioxide in the air and regulate ventilation in each room separately as required,” explains PCC technical director Luděk Bednář. “In addition to the free cooling system and the supply of outside air directly into the building, the air is naturally cooled and warmed by utilising waste heat from the operation, e.g. from the kitchen.” The heating system now allows the temperature in each of the 70 halls and lounges to be regulated separately. It also considers the natural warming of the room by the visitors themselves or from the technologies being used in the room.

Modern lighting systems also use energy-saving technologies. Designer LED luminaires are installed in 95% of PPC’s premises and can be switched on, off or dimmed as required from the central control room. As a result, lighting is only switched on when and where it is needed, which not only reduces electricity consumption but also creates optimal lighting conditions for a wide range of events. At the same time, it ensures that none of the centre’s two hundred works of art are lost to art lovers in the dark. The economic costs and carbon footprint of the new centre are also significantly reduced by a huge photovoltaic power plant. 2,080 solar panels have been installed over an area of 7,000m2, saving the centre 10% of its total energy consumption and more than 10 tonnes of CO2, enough to fill 1,740 hot-air balloons. The centre’s power plant saves around €224,490 per year.

Showing the way to staff as well as visitors

PCC encourages its team members to think about the environment during their daily office lives. The paper was replaced with a digital signage system, the use of disposable products and packaging was minimised, and waste is sorted. The marketing team prefers meaningful giveaways in the form of eco-products in recycled packaging that support local communities. Employees drink from soda fountains and if they need to buy drinks, they buy only in recycled glass bottles. “Environmentally friendly operation has become a natural part of our DNA and we believe we need to extend our commitment and green mission to our partners, suppliers and visitors. Event organisers already see sustainable events as an industry standard, and so we try to motivate visitors to behave in an environmentally friendly way,” says Lenka Žlebková, CEO of the Prague Congress Centre. The centre encourages its guests to use public transport. The offer of free public transport tickets for participants of some congresses is an attractive incentive to enjoy the charming atmosphere of the fifth most attractive congress destination in the world in their leisure time. Thanks to the excellent location of the building right next to the metro line, visitors can reach the main tourist destinations in the historical centre of Prague in just a few minutes. Electric car drivers can use a large charging hub right in front of the building. 

Top gastronomy in eco-crust

Organising truly meaningful events is only possible when working with like-minded suppliers. For example, the centre’s in-house catering partner Zátiší Catering emphasises the use of local suppliers and seasonal ingredients when preparing meals. Creative delicacies are often made with herbs and seasoning grown on the centre’s roof. Zátiší Catering’s zero-waste policy also involves the use of communal refrigerators for leftovers offering staff and the public an opportunity to enjoy high-quality meals and refreshments while reducing food waste to a minimum. Going green at PCC is not just an empty phrase, but a concrete step towards a sustainable future. Their approach sets new standards in event management and is an inspiration to those who are just beginning their journey towards green operations. The Centre is a reliable partner that honours the values of sustainability and takes the operation of convention centres to a new level. At the same time, it shows that sustainability is not just a trend, but a key element of future event management. In short, the Prague Congress Centre is a place where unique architecture and design are combined with the highest level of service and environmentally friendly operation. A place where sustainability is paramount.