SportsEvents is edited for those who plan tournaments or other sports events.
Issue link: https://sportsevents.epubxp.com/i/261418
February 2014 18 www.sportseventsmagazine.com Responsible Sport (CRS), AISTS, LEED and others. Kriss pointed out that one of USGBC's main initiatives is to get sports facilities LEED certified. "LEED is a tool not only for venue leaders and teams to better understand the steps they can take to green their facilities, but it also speaks to the millions of fans who visit these facilities every year," he said. "When a stadium is LEED certified, fans get to experience the benefits of green building firsthand, such as water conservation, energy efficiency and responsible waste manage- ment practices." Who Is Going Green To date, more than 25 collegiate and profes- sional sports facilities have been certified, including the University of Oregon's Matthew Knight Arena, which was the sec- ond university building overall to earn the prized LEED Gold Certification. According to Janis Ross, executive direc- tor for Eugene, Cascades and Coast Sports, the 400,000-square-foot venue achieved the certification through a number of measures, including efficient energy and lighting, using recycled, regional materials in the construc- tion, water efficiency measures and opti- mized building energy performance. "We have a history of hosting eco-friend- ly sporting events in our area," Ross said. "It's not uncommon to see sporting events provide features like bicycle valets and biodiesel vehicles to help reduce the use of gasoline vehicles. Extensive recycling and composting is commonplace at events, and many waste stations are frequently staffed by volunteers to assist with disposal to mini- mize overall waste." The Eugene, Cascades and Coast region is home to the Eugene Marathon, which is recognized as one of the top 10 green races in North America by Runner's World maga- zine. The region was also showcased in a case study conducted by the CRS during the 2008 U.S. Olympic trials, and the 2012 Olympic trials for track and field held at Hayward Field showcased such initiatives as 100 percent use of renewable power and promotion of locally sourced food, earning the venue gold level certification by CRS. Martin Tull, Executive Director, Green Sports Alliance First, get a serious commitment from the leadership team. Youʼve got to have support from the top for these efforts to succeed over the long haul. Do the legwork to figure out what resources and partners are right for your type of organization. Take stock of where you are, and be realistic about what you can get done the first year and build for a multi-year effort. Sustainability efforts are a marathon, not a sprint. Join the Green Sports Alliance, or find partners who can help you understand the issues and find the resources you need to succeed. Kevin Williams, International Liaison, World Karting Association Moving forward, I would recommend always asking a venue what their green strategies are. And, of course, offer regulations that your organization adheres to when operating an event. Hereʼs a test, ask the venue if they "rake" their trash? That would tell you if they are separat- ing recyclables from landfill trash. Kate Foster, Communications Manager, Jackson Hole (Wyo.) Chamber of Commerce As sports event planners make their events more sustainable, it will become second nature for the participants. Encourage participants and spectators to take pride in the event for setting a new standard. Whether itʼs T-shirts or signage, more vendors will begin to offer a larger selection as the planners work to purchase more environmentally friendly products. Jacob Kriss, U.S. Green Building Council In addition to setting up the infrastructure for recycling, sports venues need a robust communication and instruc- tion program to teach fans and employees about the benefits of waste reduction, as well as how to practice it. Once the stadium staff has separated the waste, they then have to work with their vendors to ensure that the waste hauler has a facility to take recyclables, compost and whatever other waste needs to be removed from the site. Kelly Mann, BC Games The biggest tip I could suggest is "pay attention." When you see waste or redun- dancies, any change could help make your event greener. Also, find out which organizations in your host community are already green. Partner with them to capitalize on their practices, tweaking them to suit your event. ■ ▼ SPECIAL Feature Setting The Stage For green There many ways to implement green initia- tives, and sometimes knowing where to begin can be overwhelming for event plan- ners. Planners wanting to join the movement can leverage these tips from those who have successfully navigated green projects. *02-20 SE FEB 2014_SportsEvents TEMPLATE 2/11/14 10:36 AM Page 18