Apr 07 2009

Play Ball! Pass The Garlic Fries!

Posted by: Leonard Anderson

The San Francisco Giants open their 51st National League season today at AT&T Park on the city's waterfront and a newly energy-efficient Gilroy Garlic Fries concession stand on the Pomenade Level. With the Giants not expected to be a playoff contender this season, garlic fries are getting a lot of press. The popular stand has been retrofitted with a raft of new equipment, among them fryers that slash gas consumption by a third, new lights to save 36 percent more electricity, signage made from biodegradable, recyclable materials, and recyclable drink cups and compostable carry trays.

The Giants and their local utility, PG&E, are veterans at greening the park, beginning in 2007 with the first installation of solar panels in Major League Baseball, saving 360,000 pounds of greenhouse gases so far, according to the club. The Giants will add more eco-friendly features this season, including a "Green Team" to help fans recycle and compost their trash.

Baseball clubs across the country are embracing green parks to save money by reducing energy use, conserving water and adopting recycling. The Seattle Mariners have saved almost $500,000 by reducing gas and electricity at Safeco Field by about 36 and 18 percent, respectively, the past two seasons. The club also recycled 342 tons of plastic, glass and cardboard last year for a savings of $60,000 in disposal costs. That's not much cash to put a dent in a player's salary but with attendance likely to slump this season as jobless figures climb, every bit of the green stuff is valuable.

Baseball is also teaming up with environmental organizations for assistance. Major League Baseball joined with the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) last year to push a Team Greening Program to protect the environment. "This effort is really changing baseball for the better. Baseball isn't green yet, but it's in the process of greening," says Allen Hershkowitz, senior scientist and coordinator of the sports greening project at the NRDC.

Two new parks in New York -- Yankee Stadium in the Bronx and the Mets' new Citi Field in Queens -- are drawing a lot of attention this opening week. New lighting systems will save the Yankees more than 100 tons of carbon emissions per night game, and Citi Field will feature water-saving lavatories with hands-free faucets and waterless urinals.

Beyond baseball, other professional sports are making similar moves. The National Basketball Association has teamed up with the NRDC for the inaugural NBA Green Week now running through April 10 to generate awareness and funding to protect the environment through special oncourt apparel, auctions to support environmental groups, community service projects and other programs.

The National Football League is also tackling green efforts. The Dallas Cowboys' new $1.1 billion stadium in Arlington, Texas, opening this year aims to reduce solid waste, energy use and water consumption. Environmental Protection Agency Regional Director Richard Greene says the stadium "will have national standards that perhaps will become part of the way facilities like this are operated from now on."

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