Faster, Higher, Stronger, Greener | Article

On September 5, the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) published "Game Changer: How the Sports Industry is Saving the Environment," a 120-page report that includes a collection of case studies highlighting the sport industry's commitment to environmental sustainability. Integrating environmental advocacy into sports, one of the most visible and influential industries in the United States, has the potential to further bring environmental awareness and action into mainstream American culture. Though only 13 percent of Americans say they follow science, 61 percent of Americans say they follow sports!

So far, sports leagues have demonstrated their commitment to environmental sustainability by investing in green sports venues, adopting sustainable practices, and educating their fans on environmental issues. Their efforts have already succeeded in avoiding millions of pounds of carbon emissions, saving millions of gallons of water, and saving or recycling millions of pounds of paper. In addition to embracing environmentalism, some committed sports teams are saving over one million dollars each year by being energy efficient, conserving water, reducing waste, and recycling.

A notable example of a green venue is AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants. Of all the major league ballparks, it was the first to install a solar array and the first to receive LEED Silver Certification for its existing buildings . The Giants diverted 85.2 percent of their waste from landfills in 2011, the highest diversion rate for any professional sports venue in North America. Like AT&T Park, Nationals Park, home of the Washington Nationals, was also awarded LEED Silver Certification . Some of the park's more notable green building features include "a 6,300 square-foot green roof, stadium construction using 95 percent recycled steel from a regional plant, and energy-conserving light fixtures that have reduced energy consumption by 21 percent" (Game Changer: How the Sports Industry is Saving the Environment) . Additionally, the Nationals have implemented a single-stream recycling program that diverts 80% of their waste from landfills; their water-conserving plumbing saves 3.6 million gallons of waste every year; they are making their stadium accessible by public transportation, and have installed over 250 bicycle racks.

In the past year, The Green Sports Alliance (co-founded by the NRDC) has grown by over 700 percent, 15 professional North American stadiums have received LEED green building certification, 18 have invested in solar arrays, and almost all are participating in recycling and composting programs. In addition, 68 professional sports teams have set up energy efficiency programs. The sport industry's clear commitment to environmental progress is reducing the gap between science and culture, proving that a love for sports and a desire to protect the environment are not at odds.

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