As part of what it calls the “greenest” Super Bowl in the game’s history, the New Orleans Host Committee says it will donate carbon credits to offset some 3.8 million pounds of CO2 emissions, among other sustainability initiatives.
The Host Committee estimates that energy usage at major Super Bowl venues — the Mercedes Superdome, Morial Convention Center and area hotels — resulted in about 3.8 million pounds of CO2 emissions. To offset the energy impact, the Host Committee arranged with energy company Entergy to donate carbon credits.
But one energy cut was unplanned: half the lights in the Superdome went out during the big game and didn’t come back on for 35 minutes.
In addition to offsetting the Super Bowl’s energy impact, all major venues offered recycling, and the Host Committee teamed up with the Green Project and Repurposing NOLA to reclaim Super Bowl banners, displays, signage and other promotional items, which will be manufactured into tote bags (pictured), wallets, shower curtains and other souvenir items.
The Super Bowl offered free bike valet parking services through a partnership with Entergy, Bike Easy and the Downtown Development District. Additionally, these groups offered a bike share pilot program during Super Bowl week, with bike checkouts at several downtown locations.
Super Bowl fans took steps to reduce their energy use and carbon footprint too, according to the Host Committee. As of January 11, NFL fans had pledged CO2 reductions totaling more than 21 million pounds of avoided greenhouse gasses, it reports.
Additionally, fans that visit the Geaux Green web site can purchase carbon offsets from the same sources that are being used to offset the Super Bowl venues, for as little as $5. Entergy will match every offset purchased on a one for one basis.
In other efforts to “green” the surrounding community, the New Orleans Host Committee teamed up with Hike for KaTreena on an urban forestry initiative to plant or give away 7,000 trees, exceeding the previous Super Bowl record set in Dallas by 2,000 trees. Additionally, the Host Committee and the EPA held a coastal restoration volunteer event February 2, which was also National Wetlands Day.
The San Francisco 49ers, which narrowly lost to the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, announced in late January that they have partnered with the Santa Clara Stadium Authority and NRG Energy to help the team’s new facility become the first professional football stadium to open with LEED certification — and the first zero-energy sports venue in California, Energy Manager Today reports.
