Smarter Business: Greening the Games

As a result of the NBA Green program many NBA teams are pursuing environmental initiatives at their arenas, including energy efficiency upgrades, increased recycling programs, community projects, and electronic waste recycling events.  Many teams are also renovating, designing or retrofitting their facilities in an effort to achieve LEED Certification.  To date, five NBA team arenas have received LEED certification:  the Portland Trailblazers’ Rose Garden, the Atlanta Hawks’ Philips Arena, the Miami Heat’s American Airlines Arena, the Orlando Magic’s Amway Center, and the Houston Rockets’ Toyota Center. Here is a brief sampling of the efforts being taken by teams:

The Atlanta Hawkss at Philips Arena

Philips Arena was the first NBA arena to receive LEED certification for Existing Building Operations and Maintenance in 2009. It did so by making a number of building upgrades, including energy and water efficiency improvements. As a result of HVAC, chiller, and lighting retrofits, system improvements, and reflective roof materials that reduced cooling needs, the arena was able to reduce energy consumption by 2 million kwh annually. In addition, water conservation measures such as low-flow bathroom fixtures have cut annual water use by 2 million gallons.  The Hawks and Philips Arena continue to spread the word about these efforts and encourage fans to “Follow our LEED.”

The Portland Trail Blazers at the Rose Garden Arena

The Portland Trailblazers have taken many steps to improve the efficiency of their operations, including achieving LEED certification for the Gold Rose Garden Arena where they play. Through an aggressive waste diversion program, 80 percent of their waste is diverted from local landfills, by way of extensive recycling stations for visitors and a food-waste composting program including vendor participation. These projects together have helped divert more than 800 tons from landfills each year. The arena has installed energy-efficient lighting—saving over 2,000,000 kWh’s of energy a year—as well as low-flow plumbing fixtures. The Trailblazers have also partnered with Pacific Power and NW Natural to purchase 100% renewable energy for all energy used at the arena.

The Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center

The Denver Nuggets’ Play Clean program has led to a number of equipment upgrades and energy efficiency projects. For example, the Blue Sky Grill restaurant at the Pepsi Center installed a 52-panel solar array on their roof, which provides 13,641 KWh of renewable energy annually and avoids the release of 9.42 metric tons of CO₂.  All remaining electricity demands are offset through purchases of wind power through their utility. The arena has significantly reduced water use by installing low-flow bathroom fixtures and using drought-tolerant landscaping. The arena also has a comprehensive recycling program that diverts plastic bottles and cans from landfills.

NRDC also works with the NBA to reduce the environmental impacts of their events.  NRDC first worked with NBA to help green the 2008 NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans, first by conducting an energy audit of the New Orleans Arena. NRDC helped the NBA improve the existing recycling program to include plastic bottles and aluminum cans, to procure 100% recycled content bathroom tissue at the arena, and to use hybrid cars for staff transportation during the event,

The 2009 All-Star Game in Phoenix provided the US Airways Center with a chance to showcase their newly installed solar power system.  The 1,100-panel solar array, spanning 18,000 square feet atop a parking garage at the arena, is capable of generating approximately 332 MW of energy annually, enough to power the US Airways Center for 26 Suns home games—the equivalent of eliminating the release of 44,000 pounds of carbon dioxide. Remaining energy use at the arena for the All Star Game was powered by renewable energy from their utility, and offsets were purchased for energy used by generators.  The event also incorporated a comprehensive recycling program and waste reduction efforts.