Stadium's Going Green

The Fall Classic is here. Its nice to see the clubs are making the changes toward sustainability, because I want to watch sports forever!

Here are the highlights from the article in Oct. 27th, 2007s Press Democrat

Red Sox; Fenway Park, built in 1912

"Working with the National Resources Defense Council, the team plans a variety of green improvements including the addition of photovoltaic panels, reusing old bricks and sourcing local materials whenever possible. They are also converting to fluorescent lighting, adding sensor-controlled fixtures and installing low-flow plumbing."

". . .makeover in the works in time for the park’s centennial celebration in 2012"

Rockies; Coors Field, built in 1995.

"the Rockies have already installed a 9.89-kilowatts solar array to offset energy consumption of its LED scoreboard; below the scoreboard, a monitoring system displays the amount of energy produced by the array."

Ball clubs who are pursuing green projects in their own stadiums:
Washington Nationals-

"Nationals Park will strive to become the first major stadium in the United States accredited as a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ certified ballpark. The new ballpark will pay particular attention to issues affecting the health of the Anacostia River, such as storm water management and minimization of water pollution."


Minnesota Twins- "This project creates a new standard in urban integration . . The ballpark connects with fans whether they arrive by foot, bike, bus, car, light rail or commuter rail."

"A green ballpark was one thing hundreds upon hundreds of fans requested," said Rebecca Greco, AIA, HGA principal. "Because this is a ballpark for all of Minnesota, we placed a high priority on fan input. Minnesota's new ballpark will be a defining testament to a team, a state and its people."

"The Minnesota Twins, also in the midst of a new stadium project, are working with the US Green Building Council to develop LEED certification standards for outdoor stadiums."

New York Mets- opening 2009-
"Citi Field was designed and is being constructed adhering to many LEED standards including overall Green Site/Building Exterior Management, water efficient landscaping, ozone protection; construction, demolition and renovation waste management; use of sustainable materials and optimal daylight and views." (green-links; thanks!)

Ride your Bike

(Consider this tasty track while reading)

When was the last time you rode your bike. As a truck owner (not sustainable), I have been spending more time on my bike in an effort to green my lifestyle. It's not what you hear, riding your bike is not just good for the physical environment, it is good for your head too.

After working and working nothing clears my head like a bike ride into downtown Petaluma. Today my destination was Aquas Cafe. Serving Taylor Maid coffee(fair trade organic), Aqus Cafe serves the best coffee and serves Petalumians (egg heads), who are community advocates. On my ride home, I can see whats playing at the Boulevard Cinemas (currently 3d Nightmare before Christmas . . . no documentaries unfortunately besides Into the Wild) run into neighbors, and grab a brew or two at the Mystic and maybe buy a ticket to the Groundation concert Friday before heading home.

Ahh . . . Its good to get out.

Bioneers; Web Links from Plenaries

Well the Bioneer's Conference is over for 2007, but the Bioneer's work will continue. So many speakers presenting their expertise their world delivered with their compassion and understanding in each presentation. In an effort to bridge the before and after of bioneer's I thought I would post some of the many links to the work present, and please feel free to offer your own (especially since I did not go on Friday).

Plenaries:
(Friday)
PAX Scientific - Jay Harman - Designing the Next Golden Age
Judy Baca's Art - Judy Baca - The Interactive Digital Mural, Social Reconciliation
Judy Wicks Home Page - Judy Wicks - Local Living Economies; Green, Fair, and Fun
South Mountain Company - John Abrams - Thinking Like Cathedral Builders
Ella Baker Center - Van Jones - Toward a Green Growth Alliance: Birthing a New Politics

Community Building 2.0
WiserEarth - International directory and networking forum that maps, links, and empowers the largest movement in the world.
Bioneers 2.0

Plenaries
(Saturday)
Sustainable South Bronx - Majora Carter - Green the Ghetto
Native Movement - Evon Peter - An Indigenous Perspective on How to Survive the Next Hundred Years
V- Day - Eve Ensler - V to the 10th
Soldiers Heart - Edward Tick - Return of the Ghost Dancers; Modern War's Desvistation . . . and healing

Plenaries
(Sunday)
Home Site - Wallace J. Nichols - A Brave New Ocean, or an Ocean Revolution
Ashé Cultural Arts Center Carol Bebelle - Culture and Re- Building . . . Re-membering New Orleans/Re- Weaving its social and Cultural Fabric
Health Care Without Harm - Charlotte Brody - The Sea Around Us, The Environment in Us
White Earth Land Recovery Winona Laduke - Seeds the Creator Gave Us
Earth Rights - Ka Hsaw Wa & Katie Redford - Earth Rights; Linking Human Rights and Environmental Struggles in the Age of Globalization


So those were some of the links from the weekend, but there were many more in the afternoon sessions. Maybe I'll get some of those out there too. Happy exploring.