Smarter Business: Greening the Games

Here is a brief sampling of the efforts being taken by teams:

The Los Angeles Kings at the STAPLES Center

In 2008 NRDC arranged an energy efficiency and water audit at the STAPLES Center to identify opportunities for further efficiency enhancements.  As a result, the arena has made a number of comprehensive energy improvements. One of the biggest projects included the installation of a 1,727 solar panel array, covering 25,000 square feet of the arena’s roof—the biggest solar installation at any U.S. professional sports arena to date. The 345.6 kilowatt system supplies 5-10% of the building’s energy use (depending on energy load) and produces 525,000 kWh annually. Also thanks to the audit, the STAPLES Center has replaced all 176 urinals with waterless urinals—for total annual savings of over 7 million gallons of water and about $28,200 in direct water costs.

Montreal Canadiens at the Bell Centre

The Montreal Canadiens launched their The Goal is Green! program in back in 2007, aiming to improve team and arena operations and reduce environmental impacts. Along the way, the Bell Centre received LEED certification for Existing Buildings Operations and Maintenance in 2009, with equipment retrofits that made the venue 35% more energy-efficient than similar facilities throughout North America. Other improvements which earned them LEED certification included:

• Installing water efficient toilets and faucets which reduced water use by 20%;
• A waste diversion rate of 85% for recycling and composting;
• A purchasing policy requiring that 80% of Bell Centre purchases are recycled, re-used, or locally sourced materials; and
• Reducing carbon emissions by 28%.

The Pittsburgh Penguins at the Consol Energy Center

Consol Energy Center, certified LEED Gold for New Construction in 2010, is the first NHL new construction to receive LEED Gold certification. The project received high marks for water use reduction, recycled materials, regional materials, demolition and construction waste diversion, certified wood and energy efficiency. Green features include:

• Locally procured construction materials;
• Efficient lighting and HVAC retrofits and maximized natural lighting;
• Increased green space around the outside of the building;
• Low-flow and water efficient plumbing fixtures;
• Enhanced thermal performance and reduced solar gain; and
• The purchase of renewable energy for a portion of energy use.

The NHL has also worked with NRDC to incorporate green practices and procurement into league events, including the 2010 NHL Draft, the 2011 Winter Classic, the 2011 All Star Game, and the 2011 Stanley Cup Final.

The 2010 NHL Draft was held in Los Angeles at the STAPLES Center, which boasts many sustainable features such as solar panels, waterless urinals, and a robust recycling program. Additional efforts included:

• Purchasing Green-e certified carbon offsets for all venue energy use;
• Reducing transportation needs to the venue by hosting the majority of NHL personnel at hotels within walking distance from the STAPLES Center;
• Eliminating most paper collateral from the event by making Media Guides and Year-end Review packets available online only; and
• Printing tickets on recycled stock.

 The 2011 Winter Classic, held at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh, included a variety of greening efforts, such as:

• Purchasing Green-e certified carbon offsets for stadium energy use;
• Eliminating single-use plastic bags and replacing them with 40,000 free reusable commemorative bags available at merchandise stands;
• Recycling all cardboard, bottles, and cans inside the stadium;
• Coordinating the pickup and distribution of prepared but unsold concession food as part of the Rock and Wrap It Up initiative (where Pittsburgh Penguins lead all clubs with 12,000 pounds of food donated as of December 2010);
• Installing recycling receptacles next to each trash can on streets surrounding Heinz Field to combat the usual amounts of game-day litter and offer an option for recycling (now a season-long initiative);
• Collecting recyclables at tailgating parties; and
• Offering free public transit passes by the Port Authority of Allegheny County (paid for by sponsor Pepsi MAX) to fans traveling to the game.

Additionally, the Winter Classic’s location in Pittsburgh helped draw attention to the Consol Energy Center—the new home of the Pittsburgh Penguins—the first NHL arena to achieve LEED Gold certification.

The 2011 All Star Game held at RBC Center in Raleigh included similar efforts, including:  

• Purchasing carbon offsets for energy use at the stadium;
• Eliminating single-use plastic bags and replacing them with free reusable commemorative bags at merchandise stands;
• Robust recycling programs both inside and outside the stadium, including tailgate recycling;
• Donating unused prepared food to the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle;
• The headquarters hotel, Raleigh Marriott City Center, donated unused toiletries, boxed lunches, packaged food and clothing to Raleigh Rescue Mission; and
• An All-Star Open Street Fair before the All Star Game where corporate sponsors Honda and North Carolina State University hosted sustainability booths and educated fans about their recent efforts to go green.

At the 2011 Stanley Cup Final, the League launched NHL Water Restoration Project, a water balancing commitment that would restore the equivalent amount of water used during the series at TD Garden and Rogers Arena. As a result, the League restored over one million gallons of water to a critically dewatered Oregon stream, through Bonneville Environmental Foundation’s Water Restoration Certificates.