Sustainability strikes a chord at Moody Center: An Austin Green Business Leader Spotlight

Austin is known as the "live music capital of the world"—and for good reasons! Music has been central to the growth of our city and the culture we've created. Music venues are an essential part of this moniker. So many Austinites have memories of seeing an unforgettable show, discovering a new band, or hearing tunes greet them on sidewalks as they walk by.

Moody Center is one of the newer venues on the scene, but no less memorable. It is a multi-purpose arena on the University of Texas at Austin campus that replaced the 47-year-old Frank Erwin Center in 2022. Beyond bringing in global talent, Moody Center is leading the way when it comes to sustainable practices. The facility was awarded LEED-certified Gold and was recently inducted into the Austin Green Business Leaders (AGBL) Program at Platinum status for its demonstrated commitment to supporting business practices that are good for people and the planet.

"Our mission is to become one of the most progressive sustainability leaders in our industry, and to set the standard for other venues within Oak View Group," says Ciera Culcasi, Moody's Sustainability Coordinator.

Moody Center is well on its way toward this vision, showcasing leadership in sustainability with the following highlights:

Waste Diversion

• Sorting Center: Moody Center is one of the few large-scale venues in Texas with a fully operational sorting center. Over 50 team members sort through every bag of waste, ensuring zero percent contamination. A typical event requires 22 hours of sorting, both pre- and post-event.
• Compostable Waste: Contributing over 950,000 lbs of compostable organic waste to the City of Austin through Organics by Gosh.
• Metal Donations: Donating over 36,000 lbs of metal and steel from equipment and fixtures to Austin Metal & Iron.

Left to right: Public art at Moody Center made using recycled materials; Staff at the Moody Center sort trash.

Energy Conservation

• Energy Practices: Year-round energy conservation practices include event mode and dark mode schedules for lighting and mechanical systems, resulting in a 60% reduction in energy consumption on non-event days.
• LED Lighting: Installed 100% LED lighting throughout the entire building along with motion sensors to conserve energy in unoccupied spaces.
• Efficient Cooling: Cooling is delivered from below the seats, leading to less energy use and a fresher-feeling space.
• Natural Light: Features 360 degrees of glass; floor-to-ceiling windows on the East and West sides maximize daylight penetration and reduce reliance on mechanical systems.

Water Conservation

• High-Efficiency Fixtures: All toilets and urinals are set in high-efficiency mode, utilizing automatic sensors to minimize water use.
• Reduced Water Output: Mechanical schedules on kitchen equipment and ice machines reduce water output.
• Reclaimed Water: Irrigation systems use reclaimed water, and landscaping consists of native Texas plant species.
• Water Stations: Water bottle filling stations are located throughout the arena’s back-of-house spaces, offices, and corridors.

Education & Fan Engagement

• Earth Month Activities: Engaged and educated over 50,000 fans across five concerts in April with sustainability-focused activations.
• Local Partnerships: Hosted eight local sustainability-focused organizations that provided insights to fans about their green initiatives.
• Interactive Games: Facilitated a sorting game to educate concertgoers on proper waste sorting and tested their knowledge with Earth Month trivia.
• E-Waste Drive: Premier partnership with Dell Technologies led to an e-waste drive, donating over 100 electronics totaling over 750 lbs.

Moody Center's sustainability team on location.

Community & Giving Back

Moody Center has completed several donation sessions with local Austin businesses, giving extra life to event activation items, fanfare items, and unneeded arena equipment.

• Big Brothers Big Sisters: 88 sports beverage items and equipment, including coolers, drink carriers, and reusable water bottles.
• The Settlement Home for Children: 787 hygiene products & toiletries.
• Habitat for Humanity: 25 dining tables, 210 paper towel dispensers, and 14 lockers.

Sustainability Partnerships

Moody Center pursues partnerships with like-minded organizations that emphasize green initiatives.

• H-E-B: As the official recycling partner, H-E-B provides resources and equipment to improve green initiatives for the arena, sharing stories through social media and enhancing spaces with interactive opportunities.
• GOAL and Green Sports Alliance: Moody Center is a member of GOAL (Green Operations and Advanced Leadership) and participates in the Green Sports Alliance Summit.

Addressing the climate crisis and protecting our environment is critically important, and businesses have a significant role to play. The Office of Sustainability welcomes Moody Center to the Austin Green Business Leaders Program and thanks them for their efforts to keep Austin green. To learn more about Moody Center’s sustainability efforts, visit their Sustainability page.

Is your business a green business?

If so, we encourage you to join Moody Center by becoming an Austin Green Business Leader to get recognized for doing good work in our community. Learn more.

If you’d like your business to be featured in future spotlights, please contact AGBL Program Manager Mary K. Priddy.