America’s first all-electric conference center opens in Ithaca, NY » Yale Climate Connection

In July, the first all-electric conference center in the United States opened in Ithaca, New York.

The 15,000-square-foot facility uses electric heat pumps for heating and cooling. Its chefs use induction cooktops, electric fryers and ovens to serve meals for up to 800 people.

Jablonski: “One of the cornerstones of the electrification of the conference center is the creation of an all-electric kitchen.”

Suzanne Smith Jablonski is with the Downtown Ithaca Local Development Corporation, the nonprofit organization that owns the Downtown Ithaca Convention Center.

Ithaca's goal is to have all of the city's buildings run entirely on electricity by 2030, she said.

Jablonski: “We knew we had an opportunity to make this new, state-of-the-art convention center one of the buildings that will help the city achieve its goals.”

Jablonski said the all-electric feature has already attracted customers to the venue.

Jablonski: “For many of our customers … it's a unique selling point.”

Going all-electric is therefore good for climate change and good for the conference center's business.

Report source: Sarah Kennedy/ChavoBart Digital Media