The most recent NFL stadium news is about how fans with valid tickets were left without seats at the Super Bowl. But there was recently better news about a different stadium and home team.
The owners of the Philadelphia Eagles are spending a lot of money to make Lincoln Financial Field an environmental friendly stadium. The results of their effort will be the first large American sports facility that is self-sufficient on renewable energy.
Like my family’s efforts to lessen our carbon footprints, new efforts are implemented over time for the past seven years.
Early Efforts
The Eagles started off with just blue recycling bins in their offices (probably like many of us have) and now 80% of all the trash from the stadium is recycled. Those recycling bins go with the team on the road.
Leftover food is donated, food waste and grass clippings are composted while grease and cooking oil are converted into biodiesel.
Energy Creation
Besides payroll, energy is the biggest cost for the team. The Eagles partnered with a company that will install solar panels, wind turbines and a power plant. The plant will run on biodiesel. The team agreed to buy their power from the partner for 20 years at a fixed rate which is an estimated savings of $60 million.
A side benefit is that this change is estimated to have the effect of removing 41,000 cars from the road due to emission reduction.
Business Can Be Profitable and Green
The Philadelphia Eagles are an excellent example for businesses on how to become greener. It isn’t an all or nothing change as attested to by the incremental implementation in the story. Creating cleaner and quieter power can be good for the bottom line.
Do you think more businesses will make the effort to be environmentally friendly in the future? I sure hope so.
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Awareness is the beginning! Every time you bring your own bag to the groceries, an angel gets his wings!
MoneyCone, I never heard the angel thing about reusable bags, but I like it! We keep them in our trunk so we have them for every shopping trip.
Small changes in everybody’s lives would yield even more! A large organization like an NFL team gets more publicity. This may motivate others. It is still a good thing!
If some businesses start setting the example, then others should follow. The commercial industry going green is really our only hope at actually saving this planet.
@Krantcents, I hope the Eagles do get more publicity because they’re a great example.
@ Miss T, I agree but I think governments need to set the example and incentivize businesses to go green.
What a great story! Hopefully other stadiums follow suite and pursues suck green initiatives!
Of course all new buildings ought to be as eco friendly as possible -but while this sets a good example there are big problems with stadiums and the NFL in general. Taxpayer money (lots of it) is thrown at these developments, but the teams can just cut and run…
@Money Reasons, I hope all new sporting venues are built with green initiatives and that more do retrofitting. Time will tell.
@ Bob, yes we’re having a problem with our local NFL team potentially moving up the freeway to LA. San Diego does not have the resources to pay for a new stadium now.
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