How to Choose a (Truly) Low-Carbon Venue: The 5-Criteria Checklist

Venue selection is one of the most decisive factors in an event's carbon footprint. And for good reason: it single-handedly shapes a large share of emissions, starting with the biggest item in the balance sheet—transportation—which accounts for an average of 79% of an event's footprint according to ADEME. A poorly served venue forces all your attendees into their cars; a venue with no equipment on site requires deliveries of furniture and technical gear.

The paradox is that this trade-off happens very early on, often before the carbon strategy has even been launched. Hence the importance of factoring in environmental criteria right from the selection phase, on equal footing with capacity, price, or availability.

Here are the 5 criteria to review before signing, along with the concrete questions to ask for each one.

Criterion 1: Accessibility without a car

This is the most important criterion, since it directly determines the transportation line item. A site accessible by train and public transit will steer your attendees' mobility choices far more effectively than any incentive campaign ever could.

What to check: proximity to a train station, public transit coverage (frequency included—one bus per hour isn't enough), the presence of bike lanes and bike parking. And further upstream: the venue's location relative to where most of your attendees are coming from. A beautiful but isolated site can single-handedly wreck your carbon footprint.

Criterion 2: The building's energy performance

Two identical events held in two different buildings can have very different energy consumption levels. Insulation, heating and cooling systems, and energy source all make a difference.

What to check: the building's energy performance rating (aim ideally for A or B, especially for winter events), the energy source used (grid electricity, renewable electricity contract, on-site production such as solar panels), and the venue's ability to adjust its consumption: can lighting and heating be limited to the spaces actually in use? In summer, an older building that stays naturally cool will be more advantageous than a newer one that depends on air conditioning.

Criterion 3: On-site equipment

A "turnkey" venue—one that already has furniture, technical equipment (sound, video, lighting), and the necessary fittings—spares you extra deliveries and equipment rentals. Conversely, a bare venue means bringing everything in, then hauling it all back out.

What to check: a precise inventory of what's included (furniture, staging, sound systems, projection equipment, permanent signage) and what will need to be brought in. Every piece of equipment already on site is one less truck on the road.

Criterion 4: Environmental certifications

A certification isn't everything, but it's a reliable indicator of commitment: it confirms that the venue has structured its environmental approach and that it's been verified by a third party.

What to check: the presence of a recognized certification such as ISO 20121 (responsible event management), HQE (high environmental quality building standard), or the Green Key label, and whether it's currently valid. Beyond the logo, ask what the certification actually covers for your event: energy, waste, catering?

Criterion 5: Waste management

How waste is handled (recycling, composting, landfill, or incineration) directly determines this item's footprint. A venue equipped and organized for sorting will save you valuable time—and tons of CO₂e.

What to check: the presence of enough sorting bins, whether there's a composting system or organic waste collection, and the venue's partnerships with waste treatment providers. Also ask whether the venue can provide you with the quantities of waste generated by your event: it's valuable data for your carbon assessment.

And once the venue is chosen?

Selection is only the first step. During the event, keep consumption to the strict minimum: lighting and heating/cooling adjusted according to which spaces are actually in use, appropriate temperature settings, and clear instructions for staff (doors closed, equipment switched off between sessions).

And above all, make your venue a data partner: electricity consumption, water use, waste quantities. Build this reporting requirement into the contract from the start. 

To go further, compare your candidate venues by quantifying their respective impacts: that's exactly what Climeet Express lets you do, in just a few minutes, right from the design phase.

💡 To go further, download our Playbook for a Low-Carbon Event, a complete guide to measuring, reducing, and managing the impact of your events.