Case Study: Sustainable Entertainment

Cinemark’s new Century Napa Valley and XD is notable for more than just its 12-screen high-technology movie theater and wine bar. The project is also Cinemark’s first theater eligible for certification under the LEED green-building design and construction rating system. With high-efficiency lighting and HVAC systems that are designed to perform 35 percent better than required under California’s Title 24-2008 building code, the building earned LEED Gold certification.

Challenge: Create a highly sustainable facility within a project type that typically sees high-energy use.

Solution: In addition to deploying sustainable practices during construction, LEED highlights of the new building include incorporating high-efficiency lighting and HVAC systems that are designed to perform 35 percent better than required under California’s Title 24-2008 building code. The theater also uses LED lighting fixtures within the interior, as well as for parking lot and for security lighting, along with an indirect evaporative-cooling system delivering chilled outside air for comfortable indoor air quality. A 100-kilowatt photovoltaic solar array provides on-site renewable energy, reducing dependence on the public electric grid. Rainwater from the theaters and neighboring properties is harvested and stored in large underground cisterns, limiting reliance on the city water system for irrigation. The landscaping uses drought tolerant plants. The theatre also follows green cleaning practices, including the recycling of cardboard and plastics.