Dive Brief:
- Honeywell will implement a series of technology upgrades to the building operations systems of the Atlanta Hawks’ State Farm Arena as part of a multiyear partnership with the NBA team, it announced Tuesday.
- The building management system upgrades will include Honeywell’s Forge software solutions, which draw on machine learning to monitor energy use and autonomously adjust HVAC systems to increase their efficiency.
- The partnership is intended to decrease energy consumption and emissions while increasing visibility and control of the indoor environment, Honeywell said.
Dive Insight:
To regulate indoor air quality, the company will deploy specialized sensors that monitor carbon dioxide, total volatile organic compounds and particulate matter and install secondary filtration in players’ locker rooms and fan clubs, it said in the release.
The partnership adds to the growing list of sustainability-focused endeavors at State Farm Arena. These have involved upgrading to LED lighting systems and replacing existing plumbing fixtures to reduce potable water by 40% annually, according to the arena’s website. In 2009, the facility, then called the Philips Arena, became the first NBA arena to earn LEED certification for existing buildings for its operations and maintenance.
The arena’s website also notes its efforts to reduce waste. State Farm Arena was named the world’s first sports and live entertainment venue to receive true platinum certification for zero waste, according to its website. Since May 2021, it has diverted more than 90% of fan-generated waste from landfills, compared with an average of just 10% in 2019, it said.
“Honeywell's technology provides us with the solutions and tools that we need to make our arena more energy efficient, help meet our sustainability goals and make the arena healthier for our fans, players and staff," Brett Stefansson, executive vice president of the Atlanta Hawks and general manager of State Farm Arena, said in the release. "With an approximate two million fans and guests visiting State Farm Arena each year, our building operations are fundamental to managing their experiences and improving our collective impact on the environment."
Honeywell will also collaborate with the Atlanta Hawks to develop a community engagement program that offers STEM and sustainability-focused education to metro-area Atlanta schools. The aerospace, safety and building management firm said the partnership supports its efforts to align with the “megatrends of automation and energy transition.”
