Sustainability
Citi Field
home of the New York Mets, opening in 2009
In conjunction with the Environmental Protection Agency, the New York Mets are incorporating a variety of elements to ensure their new ballpark is environmentally sustainable. The project will include waterless urinals, enhanced building performance monitoring, demolition and construction waste recycling, green cleaning products, and energy-efficient lighting. In terms of mass transit, the ballpark is adjacent to the 7 train and a Long Island Rail Road station, and the Mets will offer bus parking and implement a car pool program for fans. The club also plans to train its staff in how to operate and maintain a sustainable building in advance of the ballpark’s inaugural Opening Day in 2009.
Coors Field
Denver, Colorado
home of the Colorado Rockies, opened in 1995
- Stormwater management/water conservation: a vegetated, submerged wetland on-site treats water runoff that filters and absorbs elements that would otherwise pollute downstream waterways
- Energy conservation: the ballpark’s main scoreboard was the first full-size scoreboard to use xenon bulb technology; low energy lamps used for cleanup operations rather than the high-powered lighting used during games; the HVAC system includes direct digital controls and variable air volume design; use of double glazed windows, parabolic light fixtures, task/ambient lighting systems and efficient compact fluorescent bulbs and heat mirror glass to reduce cooling costs in office spaces
- Building materials and recycling systems: 95 percent of the reinforcing bar in the ballpark is comprised of recycled steel; seats use recycled colorfast plastic material; organized recycling system incorporated throughout the ballpark
Dow Diamond
home of the Single A Great Lake Loons, opened in 2007
When it opened in April 2007, Dow Diamond became one of the first ballparks in the country to incorporate photovoltaic solar panels on its site. These panels, donated by the Dow Chemical Company, produce enough power to equal the energy needed to generate the ballpark’s scoreboard for a year. Additionally, bricks from original Dow Chemical Headquarters building (once located on the ballpark site) were used to fill the warning track in the outfield of the Dow Diamond.
Great American Ball Park
Cincinnati, Ohio
home of the Cincinnati Reds, opened in 2003
- Resource management: concrete from original stadium was demolished and reused for roadbed material and steel from original stadium was melted down and reused
- materials: use of recycled content carpeting; recycled content toilet partitions; use of local materials such as Briar Hill sandstone and Belden brick; steel, concrete, drywall, ceiling tiles and flooring materials used in project are all easily recyclable should the project be demolished in the future
- Safe, clean construction site: site was kept clean daily of debris and not a source of wind-blown trash for other areas of downtown or the river
Nationals Park
Washington, DC
home of the Washington Nationals, opened in 2008
Nationals Park is poised to become the nation’s first professional stadium to become LEED Certified by the U.S. Green Building Council. The project incorporates a variety of sustainable design elements.