The U.S.’s first all-electric conference center debuts in Ithaca, New York: Yale Climate Connections

In July, the country’s first all-electric conference center opened in the city of Ithaca, New York.

The 15,000-square-foot facility uses electric heat pumps for heating and cooling. And its chefs serve meals for up to 800 people using electric induction ranges and electric fryers and ovens.

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

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

She says Ithaca aims for all buildings in the city to run entirely on electricity by 2030. That will reduce climate-warming pollution, especially as more electricity is supplied by renewables.

Jablonski: “We knew we had the opportunity with this brand-new, state-of-the-art conference center to be one of the buildings that was helping the city meet its goals.”

Jablonski says the all-electric features are already attracting customers to the venue.

Jablonski: “For many of our clients … it is a unique selling point.”

So going all-electric is helping the climate – and the conference center’s business.

Reporting credit: Sarah Kennedy / ChavoBart Digital Media