This press release was created by the team at the NBC Universal Newsroom.
A LEED Platinum certification for Universal Epic Universe demonstrates Universal Destinations & Experiences’ commitment to sustainability and innovation by integrating energy efficiency and sustainable construction practices during the planning and design of the transformative theme park.
Universal Destinations & Experiences (UDX), a unit of Comcast NBCUniversal, is redefining the immersive theme park experience with the opening of Universal Epic Universe. Designed with environmental stewardship in mind, Universal Epic Universe is the first theme park project to achieve Platinum certification under LEED for Communities: Plan and Design.
From thoughtfully integrated green spaces and water conservation measures to an electric bus fleet with on-site solar and battery energy storage systems, sustainability features are designed seamlessly into the theme park. The guest experience also includes plant-based menu options and water refill stations.
“Being able to design a new theme park is a unique opportunity and responsibility. From the lush gardens of Celestial Park to the dynamic water features at Isle of Berk, Epic Universe is our latest development to integrate efficient technology and sustainable features throughout. It’s all part of how we are creating an epic experience for our guests.” – Jeff Polk, Executive Vice President & General Manager of Universal Epic Universe
With acres of rolling gardens, chasing waterways and strolling pathways, Universal Epic Universe showcases green space woven into the heart of the park and throughout its periphery. Thousands of trees and over 600 unique plants provide shade and groundcover. Additionally, 535 acres of sensitive wetlands were maintained during construction of the theme park.
Epic Universe features a blend of thoughtful landscaping designs and captivating water displays. Smart water systems include real-time control sensors and efficient pumps for dynamic water features.
The dedicated fleet of electric buses is one of Epic Universe’s key sustainability features, which transport guests between parks with less noise, improved air quality, and an all-around better experience. Each of these buses can operate for more than 21 hours on a single charge, allowing for a flexible workflow for operators.
Along with the electric buses, Universal Orlando Resort built a brand-new, first-of-its-kind electric bus depot near Epic Universe where buses are charged in part by a floating solar array. An on-site battery energy storage system collects and stores the energy during the day before charging the electric buses at night.
One of the features that earned Epic Universe its LEED Platinum certification is the park’s commitment to clean energy. Guests in the VIP Parking area will have shaded parking under the solar canopies which help power the theme park with clean energy. 3.7 megawatts of on-site solar at three project locations at Epic Universe will generate over 6,700,000 kilowatt-hours, enough to power over 900 homes with electricity.
With millions of programmable LED lights in Celestial Park, having an efficient, smart lighting system is essential – especially to power the stunning displays during nighttime shows. All Epic Universe lighting is part of a parkwide system that aligns with the park operations schedule, so lights are only on when they need to be for both daytime and night.
It’s all part of our effort to build to sustainable construction standards and implement the latest energy efficiency technologies for improved operations and an all-around better guest experience.
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NBCUniversal is one of the world’s leading media and entertainment companies. We create world-class content, which we distribute across our portfolio of film, television, and streaming, and bring to life through our global theme park destinations, consumer products, and experiences. We own and operate leading entertainment and news brands, including NBC, NBC News, MSNBC, CNBC, NBC Sports, Telemundo, NBC Local Stations, Bravo, USA Network, and Peacock, our premium ad-supported streaming service. We produce and distribute premier filmed entertainment and programming through our powerhouse film and television studios, including Universal Pictures, DreamWorks Animation, and Focus Features, and the four global television studios under the Universal Studio Group banner, and operate industry-leading theme parks. NBCUniversal is a subsidiary of Comcast Corporation. Visit www.nbcuniversal.com for more information.