As the world embraces the concept of becoming less dependent on oil and gas as a method to help the planet, technologies have also been developing to meet these challenges. A variety of alternative and renewable energy sources are being created through innovative companies around the globe. This is a topic of great interest and importance in the sports industry, as they perceive a dual benefit in both energy cost savings and helping to reduce carbon emissions. The popularity has spurred a number of stadiums around the U.S. to take the baton and run with it and they are setting a precedence for other organizations and institutions as we see more stadiums and sports arenas going green.
The topic of ‘going green’ entails a number of areas, and can include recycling of materials, composting, water retention, the use of vehicles that do not contribute to a higher carbon footprint, and the purchase of recycled items. Many of the stadiums in America have taken on this challenge, working solely with companies that offer a reduction in carbon emission products. From composting to recycled field materials, the face of the average stadium has definitely gone green. Not surprisingly, there is a cost savings that is associated with these choices and as some of the largest stadiums in the country make the adaptation to being earth-conscious, so do the smaller stadiums.
Sustainable and renewable energy is available in a number of technologies, but the one that remains the most popular is solar. The energy savings from stadiums such as the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, PA and AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants have made commitments to become eco-friendly and energy efficient. Fenway Park, of the Boston Red Sox fame has used their solar panels to create enough heat to warm 37% of their hot water and AT&T Park has saved enough energy to give power to their sports scoreboard (this equates to offering electricity to over forty homes).
The advantages of sports stadium scoreboard use of LED lighting may have been one of the first ventures in cost savings and high technology for energy savings. Almost all stadiums in the country either currently have or are looking into replacing their old scoreboards with the longer lasting, brighter visual displays and energy savings LED versions.
Probably one of the most publicized green stadiums was the MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, for SuperBowl XLVIII. Home to both the New York Jets and Giants, the plans for going green were announced worldwide. The stadium may have started a trend with their solar ring, but the addition of water conservation, composting and electric controls has helped the stadium to have a reduction in electricity by twenty percent.
The concept of going green is top on the white board discussion as stadiums around the world make renovation changes that not only effect the environment but offer significant dollar savings. Since sports is a love that is shared by all countries, it is anticipated that each new stadium will be going green through the use of the ever changing and fast paced technology developments.