Saving energy

According to Haggarty, by the time Xanadu opens in November, it will already have green facets such as energy efficient lighting incorporated, indigenous landscaping planted and will treat and re-use water for non-potable uses such as toilets. The ski dome itself, as cold as it must remain year-round, will use only the same amount of energy as any other business typical in size. Haggarty said although it must remain at 28 degrees even through the scorching summer months, layers of insulation and concrete would prevent the cold air from leaking. The 287-foot Ferris wheel that will run 365 days a year, according to Haggarty, will run on energy credits produced from a Texas-based wind farm.

Haggarty also praised the fact that the development was involved in a partnership with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to study the emissions reductions on diesel trucks.

"We are working with the DEP and our contractors to do pilot program for diesel emissions," said Haggarty. "It’s the first time they are taking the data in New Jersey and they are going to use it to be able to better understand how to improve some of the exhaust from future construction."

Water recycling

According to Len Kaiser, executive director of the Bergen County Utilities Authority (BCUA) and board member at the New Jersey Meadowlands Commission (NJMC), Xanadu may be rigged to re-use the water, but has no such technology or connection in place with the BCUA to currently initiate it.

"They had an obligation to explore the idea by virtue of the state and the hearing officers report," said Kaiser. "We had some studies done on its feasibility and the costs were astronomical, in the tens of millions of dollars. That’s a lot of capital and probably the kill factor for them."

Where’s the LEED?

Prior to the approval of Xanadu’s master plan, NJMC Executive Director Robert Ceberio and NJDEP Director of Operations Gary Sondermeyer were the hearing officers that made recommendations and requirements to Xanadu on elements in construction from land use to green building. One requirement was Xanadu had to obtain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

The requirement was later downgraded to a recommendation, however, by former NJDEP Commissioner Bradley Campbell due to the complexity of the project and the Green Council’s absence of a complete LEED checklist for such an intricate project. However, it was still recommended that the developers use as many LEED-certified building practices as possible into the project. The NJDEP did not return a request for an interview on its stance on the absence of several practical green building practices at Xanadu, but the NJMC expressed its disappointment with the recommendations that were made, but never followed through on.

"The NJMC has been adamant since the beginning stages of Xanadu that the project incorporate solar power and other aspects of renewable energy into its building plan," said Brian Aberback, spokesman at the NJMC. "The NJMC will continue to recommend that the project meet the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design standards."

Pollution producer

Jeff Tittel, executive director of the New Jersey Chapter of the Sierra Club said the sheer size of Xanadu would not only be a mass pollution producer, but would also affect other environmental facets such as nearby groundwater and avian populations that regularly use the Meadowlands.

"We already know the impacts it will have on air quality and traffic and it’s going to be disastrous. These types of lights and colors on the building can affect the environment," said Tittel, attributing possible adverse effects of regional and migratory avian populations. "This is too important of a project to become another laughingstock of New Jersey."

Critics, including the NJSEA who has already told Xanadu to scale back signage from original concepts by at least 50 percent when they submit formal plans, have questioned the light pollution the complex will give off as well. Xanadu has already announced that a massive LED screen adorning the front of the complex will be implemented to publicize events at Xanadu and possibly the NJSEA as well. The Ferris wheel has been sponsored by Pepsi and early conceptual drawings show a significant portion of it lit up with the Pepsi emblem.

Other detractors of the non-green construction of Xanadu say the state and the developer are at equal responsibility for allowing the massive development to be built with such little energy efficient facets. East Rutherford Mayor James Cassella said he had mentioned to state officials before Xanadu was even built that solar and water re-use should be mandatory at the complex. He said it was then a slap in the face when Al Gore joined Governor Jon Corzine prior to the Live Earth concert last summer with Xanadu in the foreground when Corzine signed a precedent-setting bill to significantly lower greenhouse gas emissions statewide.

"I think it was ridiculous…the state standing there with Xanadu in the backdrop telling us that we are ahead most other states in passing environmental laws," said Cassella. "The fact is that the state had the power, recommendations were made, and nothing was done."