Home of Super Bowl XLVIII Sets Eyes on Green – Fans Can Too!
Kick off for Super Bowl XLVIII is only three short days away. This game will make history as the first Super Bowl played in an uncovered stadium in a cold-weather region. Held at MetLife Stadium, the game also promises to make waves in the sports greening movement. From e-waste collection drives to large-scale public transit plans to move fans to and from the game to the collection and donation of uneaten, untouched food, the NFL and Super Bowl organizers have shown a commitment to lessening the impact of the jewel event and promoting environmental stewardship.The site of the Super Bowl itself sets an example in venue excellence with a strong commitment to environmental programs. MetLife Stadium partnered with the EPA in 2009, pledging to become an environmental steward by implementing a number of green initiatives. The home of the NY Jets and NY Giants has reduced energy, implemented recycling and composting programs, reduced water consumption through low flow faucets, toilets and waterless urinals in rest rooms and promotes mass transit alternatives. As a result of these programs, the stadium has reduced its carbon footprint by the equivalent of over 234,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide, saving the facility nearly $20 million in operating costs in just under four years of action. Click here to find out more about MetLife Stadium’s greening initiatives. Even more, both teams set to face off in the Super Bowl on February 2nd boast meaningful greening programs at their respective home venues. Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium, home of the Denver Broncos, is a charter member of Rocky Mountain Region Greener Venues Partnership. And, CenturyLink Field, home of the Seattle Seahawks, recently launched its Defend Your Turf sustainability program. It’s not only the teams and venues that can do their part to be environmentally savvy. It is estimated that 55 million American households (113 million people) tuned in to Super Bowl XLVII last year. With those numbers, there is a lot of positive impact that could be had if fans get involved in the green sports movement as well. As you finalize your plans for Super Bowl viewing parties, consider a few ways to reduce your game day impact:
- Ask your guests to carpool when possible - It saves gas and makes parking in your neighborhood easier.
- Switch to compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) - CFLs are 80% more efficient than conventional bulbs – brightening your house and saving energy and money in the long run.
- Use resuable plates, cups, containers and cloth napkins – Class up your party while cutting down on your paper consumption and waste.
- Opt for sustainably-produced meat - Replace beef and pork with poultry to lower your carbon footprint and save money too. And, don’t forget to throw in a few veggies now and then! Fun Stat: If half of the 55 million households viewing the Super Bowl served chicken nachos instead of beef nachos, we could prevent an estimated 552,750 metric tons of CO2e emissions and save an estimated 38.17 billion gallons of water. These savings are equivalent to:- The annual GHG emissions of 91,840 passenger vehicles- Enough water to fill 57,833 Olympic-size swimming pools
- Pick nontoxic alternatives to household cleaners – When the party is over, clean up like a pro using green cleaning products, reducing potential harm to yourself and the environment. Click here for info on Green Seal-certified products.
Check out the NRDC Greening Advisor for more green fan tips.
Enjoy the show!Stay up to date on the green sports movement. Follow @SportsAlliance&#GreenSports on Twitter and visit Green Sports Alliance on Facebook.*Data for calculations came from 2011 research from the Environmental Working Groupfor carbon numbers and research from the Bonneville Environmental Foundation for water numbers.