Should the Healthier Aspects of Sports Extend Beyond Fans and Players?
Sporting venues and stadium arenas are implementing groundbreaking green initiatives to promote sports and environment sustainability. Many venues across the globe have joined the sustainability movement to protect the environment.
The opportunities to do so are many: there are ways to reduce carbon emissions, reduce noise pollution, establish sustainable water systems that reduce water usage, and the use of solar and wind energy for electricity.Given all of these options, the race to go green is quite competitive.
Stadiums are trying to outdo each other in creating a combination of superior sporting events and environmentally friendly venues. But let’s pause and have a look at some of the benefits of going green.
Benefits of Environmentally Friendly Sports Stadiums
1) Water Preservation – Water usage in stadiums can be absurdly high. This is because water is needed to irrigate the fields (for those using real grass), clean the venue, and in the washroom facilities. Stadiums can reduce water depletion by implementing green initiatives such as rainwater collection, water harvesting and recycling.
2) Energy Preservation – The use of alternative energy sources decreases energy usage. Use of solar and wind to power stadiums is becoming more and more frequent.
3) Low Pollution – Use of green building materials result in lower waste and pollution in the environment. Today, many stadiums are built using recycled materials, such as paper and plastics.
4) Financial Benefits – Green projects are essentially cheaper to sustain and operate. Expect lower water, energy, maintenance and insurance premium costs. The value of the project will also appreciate over time.
5) Reduced Health Risks to the Community – Building with toxin-free materials reduce the risk of potential health issues, such as asthma and cancer. Green stadiums also go through a commissioning process that reduces other safety hazards, such as fire.
The Most Sustainable Stadiums and Arenas in the World
Here are the most sustainable sports stadiums in the world:
- Amsterdam Arena This stadium is home to the Ajax football club and has installed some of the most sustainable green incentives in the world. The stadium is powered by a wind turbine and 4,200 solar panels.
- Mercedes-Benz Stadium – Home to the Atlanta Falcons football team, this U.S. stadium received a platinum Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certificate. The stadium consumes almost 30% less than the average energy consumption for arenas, and 47% less water.
- Levi’s Stadium – This U.S. stadium in Santa Clara, California holds multiple LEED certifications. It was also recognized recently by the White House for its devotion to fighting climate change and environmental awareness in the sport. It has a 27,000 square foot solar-paneled green roof, and the stadium locally sources organic food; 78% of the food vendors are within 150 miles of the stadium.
- Golden 1 Center – Home to Sacramento Kings, this U.S. stadium was recognized as the world’s greenest and most environmentally friendly sports facility in 2017. The structure is in the top 3% of the highest-performing green buildings in the world. The stadium’s water consumption is 45% less than the California code requirements. During construction, 95% of demolition equipment was recycled.
List of Sustainable Stadium Ideas
Today, sports and the environment go hand in hand. Here’s a list of sustainable stadium ideas that will positively impact the environment:
- Reduce water consumption
- Minimal energy consumption and implementation of sustainable solar and wind energy production systems
- Proper waste management and recycling
- Reduce carbon footprint of the facility
- Alternative lighting systems, such as natural light permeable roofs
