Why Sustainability Matters in Meetings: Savannah's LEED Gold Certified Convention Center

In Savannah, sustainability isn’t an add-on—it’s built in. Reducing carbon impact is especially important when meetings involve large groups, frequent travel and extended stays. The Savannah Convention Center takes intentional steps to help planners ease environmental, health and cost-related concerns for attendees.

Key initiatives include:

• New hybrid-electric Savannah Belles Ferries, offering an energy-efficient connection between downtown Savannah and the convention center.
• A facility designed to maximize natural daylight, paired with energy-efficient LED lighting and ENERGY STAR®–rated digital signage and monitors.
• Water refill stations and in-room bottle bubblers that significantly reduce single-use plastic waste.
• Certified sustainable seafood and thoughtfully curated plant-based menu options.
• ENERGY STAR®–rated systems that support high indoor air quality standards for healthier meeting environments.

Read more about the Savannah Convention Center’s sustainability initiatives here.

Either we’re all in, or all out. In Savannah, sustainability is a shared commitment—one that extends beyond meeting venues and into the city's very fabric. Attendees are welcomed to explore with confidence, knowing the local community is actively invested in protecting the environment.

In 2021, the city adopted the 100% Savannah Clean Energy Plan, created with both current and future generations in mind. The plan highlights five key focus areas: energy efficiency, renewable energy, transportation and mobility, community and economic development, and education and engagement.

These initiatives are visible throughout Savannah in meaningful ways, including the expansion of electric vehicle charging stations, support for community gardens, reduced energy usage for cost reduction and continued efforts to promote responsible growth citywide.

Trust is a delicate yet priceless asset, and one the Savannah Convention Center does not take lightly. Engagement, networking, collaboration, reliability and career opportunities are built on a candid foundation that Savannah continues to stand behind.

Our dedication to improving the way you meet and how you meet has been an environmental labor of love, rooted in the understanding that it’s not about what our city gives you, but what you take away from it.

The Savannah Convention Center's LEED Gold certification places it on equal footing with its peer markets, such as Nashville and New Orleans, while surpassing Tampa's LEED Silver certification. While fellow peers often emphasize sustainable infrastructure, Savannah's approach extends beyond its convention center walls to the community and city as a whole. Savannah balances LEED credentials with a heavy dose of walkability, ferry access and local initiatives. Preservation here feels integrated, not isolated. 

It all comes down to you, the attendee. Your experience is essential in sustainability, placing core values at the forefront while remaining authentic to our city. Our conscious objective is to create meetings that feel intentional, positive, responsible and undeniably Savannah.