Baseball Stadium Baseball Stadium SustainabilitySustainability

By: Liam FitzgeraldBy: Liam Fitzgerald88THTH Grade, Tamarac Middle School Grade, Tamarac Middle School

RPI EcoEd Middle School Research ProjectSpring 2012

StakeholdersStakeholders

A stakeholder is person A stakeholder is person with an interest or with an interest or concern in something concern in something (Merriam-Webster (Merriam-Webster Dictionary)Dictionary)

It can also be described It can also be described as someone who is as someone who is affected by the topicaffected by the topic

Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball

Make all decisions for the Make all decisions for the leagueleague

Meet regularly with Meet regularly with environmental advocatesenvironmental advocates

Inform team owners about Inform team owners about changes to be madechanges to be made

Stadium Grounds CrewStadium Grounds Crew

Apply changes to Apply changes to the stadiumthe stadium

Become healthier Become healthier if the team decides if the team decides to make better to make better chemical choiceschemical choices

MLB FansMLB Fans

Pay majority of the Pay majority of the moneymoney

Support the leagueSupport the league

Changes to Major Changes to Major League Baseball League Baseball stadiums raise stadiums raise awareness among fansawareness among fans

MLB Owners/ManagementMLB Owners/Management

Manage all money Manage all money for their specific for their specific teamteam

Decide what changes Decide what changes are made to their are made to their parksparks

Brian CashmanGeneral Manager of the New York Yankees

MLB PlayersMLB Players

Using the field Using the field that is being that is being changedchanged

MLBPA has to MLBPA has to agree with all agree with all changes made by changes made by MLBMLB

Environmental Concerns OverviewEnvironmental Concerns Overview

Stadium LightsStadium Lights

Garbage/Waste DisposalGarbage/Waste Disposal

Water ConsumptionWater Consumption

Grass Chemicals Grass Chemicals

Stadium LightsStadium Lights

High-energy consumer High-energy consumer

Often inefficient Often inefficient

Release more energy than Release more energy than close to all other major close to all other major ballpark appliances ballpark appliances combinedcombined

Garbage/Waste DisposalGarbage/Waste Disposal

No recycling programsNo recycling programs

Limited garbage cansLimited garbage cans

Few biodegradable Few biodegradable itemsitems

Lots of litter around Lots of litter around the parkthe park

Grass Chemicals Grass Chemicals

Had a sponsorship with Had a sponsorship with Scott’s Miracle-Gro Scott’s Miracle-Gro using semi-toxic using semi-toxic chemicalschemicals

Together, MLB teams Together, MLB teams use 75 MILLION use 75 MILLION pounds of pesticides pounds of pesticides each year each year

Water ConsumptionWater Consumption

An endless amount of water An endless amount of water is used by every big league is used by every big league stadium every daystadium every day

10 Million Gallons Each 10 Million Gallons Each Year per stadiumYear per stadium

Water is a resource we need Water is a resource we need to survive to survive

Environmental Solutions OverviewEnvironmental Solutions Overview

Solar PanelsSolar Panels

Recycling ProgramsRecycling Programs

Healthier Chemicals Healthier Chemicals

Rain Water Rain Water Harvesting ProgramHarvesting Program

Solar PanelsSolar Panels

10+ Parks have 10+ Parks have already switched already switched to panels, some to panels, some that could power that could power up to 400 TV’sup to 400 TV’s

Less energy is Less energy is used by lightingused by lighting

Recycling ProgramRecycling Program

90% of all MLB 90% of all MLB stadiums now have fan-stadiums now have fan-accessible recycling accessible recycling programprogram

Reduces amount of Reduces amount of litterlitter

Reduces amount of Reduces amount of trash at local landfillstrash at local landfills

Healthier ChemicalsHealthier Chemicals

Reduce amount of Reduce amount of pesticides used on pesticides used on fieldfield

Limit association Limit association with brand name with brand name lawn programslawn programs

Rain Water Harvesting ProgramRain Water Harvesting Program

Used by Target Field and Used by Target Field and Nationals ParkNationals Park

Collects up to 4.8 million Collects up to 4.8 million gallons of water each gallons of water each yearyear

Underground Underground contraption, that collects contraption, that collects precipitation and filters itprecipitation and filters it

Closing ArgumentClosing Argument

The Minnesota Twins were The Minnesota Twins were awarded the LEED Silver awarded the LEED Silver Certification Certification

Miller Park (Home of the Miller Park (Home of the Brewers) was also awarded Brewers) was also awarded the LEED Certificationthe LEED Certification

Other ballparks to go above Other ballparks to go above and beyond are Nationals and beyond are Nationals Park, Fenway Park, Safeco Park, Fenway Park, Safeco Field, Progressive Field and Field, Progressive Field and AT&T Park.AT&T Park.