NHL Recognized For Being “Green” By The Environmental Protection Agency
It was announced on February 6, 2015 that the National Hockey League has ranked 17th on the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) National Top 100 list of the largest users of green power.
“The NHL’s commitment to use 100 percent renewable energy is a hat trick for clean air, our health, and our climate,” said Gina McCarthy, EPA’s Administrator. “Using sustainable business practices at sports stadiums and arenas, including utilizing green power, helps protect our communities and our environment by combating the impacts of climate change and protecting winter sports for our athletes.”
Efforts by the NHL such as NHL Green, “a comprehensive sustainability initiative” created by the League in 2010. In 2014, the league started the Sustainability Report, which keeps track of the League’s carbon footprint.
The League began using the energy service Constellation so that they can be supplied with Renewable Energy Certificates. According to the NHL the “RECs represent the generation of more than 271 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power, matching the League’s total electricity consumption.”
“Constellation congratulates the NHL for this achievement and is committed to its partnership with the League to support America’s clean energy future,” said Joe Nigro, CEO of Constellation.
The Minnesota Wild has been known for their efforts in going green. Their home, the Xcel Energy Center is known for its renewable energy. They were recently certified to three international sustainability standards LEED, Green Globes and APEX/ASTM. These three recognitions make it the first complex in the world to receive those three classifications. The Wild is the Leagues most sustainable team.
The 2015 All Star Game in Columbus, Ohio was commended for their work in making Nationwide Arena green. They not only conserved things like water and energy, but they reduced their waste by establishing a recycling program. This was only one of the ways that the League extended their green efforts out to all of the teams.
Because of the National Hockey Leagues recognition by EPA the NHL qualifies for EPA’s Green Power Leadership Club, a “distinction given to organizations that have significantly exceeded EPA’s minimum requirements.” The Green Power Leadership club members use ten times the minimum requirement to take part in a partnership with EPA.
The National Hockey League is the first professional sports league to ever be acknowledged for such an accomplishment.
