This weekend people all over the world will celebrate Earth Day and continue the message of conservation. We wondered what some of the most influential figures in America, sports teams, are doing to lessen their carbon footprint.
Kermit said it wasn’t easy being green,
The Last Night’s Game Team
The Rundown - 5 Teams That Are Proving Going Green Is A Team Effort
- Ohio State University boasts one of the biggest stadiums in college football, seating roughly 105,000. It’s big and mighty and it’s a “zero waste” stadium which means 90% or more of the trash created avoids landfills through recycling, repurposing and composting. OSU sits at 95.45% waste free.
- The home of the Sacramento Kings (basketball) is 100% solar powered. When it opened in 2016 it was the first LEED Platinum arena in the world, representing the top three percent of buildings certified.
- CONSOL Energy Center, where the Pittsburgh Penguins call home, was the first NHL (National Hockey League) arena to achieve Gold LEED certification. The certification was awarded partly because of their use of local construction materials, low flow plumbing fixtures and a partnership to donate leftover concession food to local food banks.
- The Forest Green Rovers are a soccer team from Western England and they are leading the charge with the “Greening up Football” campaign. (Our soccer is their football). Not only do they set an example with solar panels, making the field organic and energy efficient lighting but they’ve stopped serving meat at the stadium. Yes, they are meat free. Literally putting the money where your mouth is.
- The Boston Red Sox home field advantage is an urban farm. The 5,000 square foot rooftop farm generates 4,000 pounds of produce annually to be used in the stadium.
- There are over 400 teams from 15 different sports in 14 countries who members of the Green Sports Alliance. To find out more about their impact, click here.
Overtime
- Superstar Carrie Underwood surprised everyone when she brought down the house by singing the national anthem before the NHL playoff game between the Chicago Blackhawks and her husband’s Nashville Predators. Apparently, she was good luck because the Predators won to take a commanding lead in the series.
Sideline stat
- Adidas is in hot water this morning for sending out a congratulatory email to runners of Monday’s race with the subject line “Congrats, you survived the Boston Marathon.” Critics say the poorly worded subject line is insensitive to the three people killed and 206 injured in the Boston Marathon bombing. Insert foot (or keyboard) in mouth.
Coaches’ corner
- Former New England Patriots (NFL – National Football League) star Aaron Hernandez, who was serving out a life sentence in prison for murder, was found dead in his cell early this morning. Officials say he hung himself.