You may have thought the greenest thing about Philadelphia's major league baseball team was its furry green mascot, the Phillie Phanatic.
But the city that once led the nation as its first capital back in 1774, is leading the U.S. in a new way in 2008: its professional sports teams have taken unprecedented steps towards greening their enterprises.
In April 2008, the Philadelphia Phillies announced it would offset the carbon footprint created by electricity use at Citizens Bank Park. It bought 20 million kilowatt-hours of Green-e Certified Renewable Energy Certificates, which the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says represents the largest single purchase of 100-percent renewable energy in professional sports.
The Phillies' move comes five years after the Philadelphia Eagles football team became the first professional sports organization to implement an environmental strategy.
Both teams have committed to buying green power, to game day recycling programs (including recycling concession stand frying oil for use as bio-fuel) and to using post-consumer recycled paper products.
The Eagles have further promised to purchase renewable energy from wind and other sources, to support tree-planting programs, and to use organic and pesticide-free materials on their playing and practice fields. All of which adds up to a home-run for the environment.
Related Links:
1) www.phillies.com/redgoesgreen
2) www.philadelphiaeagles.com/gogreen/
Photo Caption: Philadelphia Phillies mascot, the Phillie Phanatic, wears a green hat and jersey to show his support for the team's effort to go green. (Photo Courtesy of The Philadelphia Phillies).
