Green Technology Meets Professional Sports Leagues

Six US professional sports leagues have teamed with the Environmental Protection Agency to endorse an effort by the newly formed Green Sports Alliance. This alliance “will promote eco-friendly practices for professional sports teams and their stadiums.” The professional leagues supporting this alliance include: Major League Baseball (MLB), Major League Soccer (MLS), the National Basketball Association (NBA), the Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA), the National Football League (NFL), and the National Hockey League (NHL).


The alliance was created by Microsoft co-founder and Seattle Seahawks and Portland Trail Blazer owner Paul Allen in conjunction with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The movement’s objective is to encourage environmentalism, independent from political agendas.


Some teams have already begun embracing this movement and many have leaned on new green technologies in the process. A few examples from CNET News include the Philadelphia Eagles updating Lincoln Financial Field with “80 spiral small-wind turbines, 2,500 solar panels, and a 7.6-megawatt dual-fuel co-generation plant running on biodiesel fuel and natural gas.” Additionally Target Field, home of the Minnesota Twins, is discouraging fans from using plastic water bottles and instead employing a rain water recycling system that filters tap water.


The hope is that this alliance will persuade sports stadiums to act in more environmentally responsible ways while encouraging fans and other businesses to take up their own effort toward sustainable eco solutions. Sports teams and athletes play such an important role in influencing the world. It is great they are leading by example through implementing eco-friendly technology solutions. Ref. cnet.com