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Packers Announce 'Packers Green Team' Program
posted 07/22/2008
RENEWABLE ENERGY TO POWER LAMBEAU ON GAME DAYS, OTHER ELEMENTS HIGHLIGHTED
The Green Bay Packers Tuesday launched 'Packers Green Team,' a new program the organization will utilize to focus on using renewable resources and other sustainable practices on game day and every day at Lambeau Field.
The chief component of this year's effort is utilizing Wisconsin Public Service's NatureWise renewable energy program to power Lambeau Field on game days. Other efforts include increased opportunities for fans to recycle in the stadium and Lambeau Field Atrium, as well as the use of more environmentally friendly foodware, such as plates and napkins, in suites, club seats and at special events.
"The Green Bay Packers are excited to enhance our efforts in the sustainable resources area," said Packers President/CEO Mark Murphy. "By adopting NatureWise and increasing our recycling, we hope to have a positive impact on the environment. Many organizations and individuals already are taking these steps - we're pleased to join them and hopefully encourage a few others to explore their options, too.
"It's important to note that this will be an ongoing effort. We'll continually evaluate the process and its results, and then add any measures that will improve the program."
 The Packers will join more than 40 commercial, 1,800 residential and 11 large agricultural operations customers in using NatureWise. Approximately 1.2 million kilowatt hours of electricity - enough to power 140 average homes for a year - will be purchased through the season, including Family Night, preseason and regular-season games, along with any playoff contests. The green energy in the NatureWise program includes electricity produced from wind and biogas sources.
"We applaud the Green Bay Packers' initiative and leadership in the use of renewable energy sources for their electricity used for home games," said WPS President and CEO Charlie Schrock. "WPS is proud to 'power the Pack' and we are pleased to support this great organization with our NatureWise program."
 In addition to NatureWise, the Packers are offering more opportunities for fans to recycle in the concourses at Lambeau Field and in the Lambeau Field Atrium. In conjunction with Waste Management, the team's waste and recycling partner, the Packers will be placing additional recycling containers, shaped like beverage bottles, in several areas around the stadium. The parking lot will continue to feature the large, helmet-shaped recycling containers for use, too.
"We need our fans' help on recycling," added Murphy. "We've accomplished a lot in recent years around the stadium, but we can do more, and we need our visitors to be cognizant of where to discard their used items. It's an educational component we'll be stepping up."
"We're pleased to join the Packers' 'Green Team' to increase recycling at Lambeau Field," said Mike Flemming, Waste Management market area general manager. "We look forward to contributing to sustainable efforts and encouraging fans to do their part. We can't do it ourselves - we can provide the tools, but they need to take advantage of them."
These efforts will add to a practice that last season collected an average of 2 tons of recyclable material per game from the stadium bowl, consisting mostly of plastic bottles. Other stadium recycling programs collected an average of 4.6 tons from game operations, roughly half glass and half paper/cardboard. Through recycling at Lambeau, materials are used in the manufacturing of new products, energy and trees are spared, and less landfill space is used. All these benefits will be increased with the new effort.
In Lambeau Field suites and club seats, Levy Restaurants will be replacing plastic plates with more environmentally friendly paper products, made from recycled materials, which will biodegrade much more quickly in landfills. Special events clients also will have the option of using the products.
The Packers' new endeavor is highlighted by a logo, "Green Team," with the phrase, "Defending Our Resources." A new Web page, www.packers.com/community/green_team, has been launched and includes detailed information about the Packers' everyday sustainable efforts, along with links to resources other organizations and individuals can use to increase their own sustainable practices.
**
Green Bay Packers' use of NatureWiseŽ
NatureWise from WPS includes electricity produced from wind and biogas. Two wind facilities produce electricity for NatureWise - Glenmore Wind Facility and Forward Wind Energy Center near Fond du Lac. The biogas energy comes from dairy farms and landfills in northeast Wisconsin.
The size and impact of the Packers' NatureWise purchase:
- 1.2 million kilowatt-hours of electricity from wind and biogas, equivalent to the electricity used by 140 average homes for a year.
- An estimated 2.3 million pounds of carbon dioxide - over 1,100 tons - will be avoided.
- According to Environmental Protection Agency data, that's equivalent to any one of the following:
- Carbon sequestered annually by 232 acres of pine forest, or,
- Annual greenhouse gas emissions from 187 passenger vehicles, or,
- CO2 emissions from burning 5.3 railroad cars of coal.
Recycling at Lambeau Field
Plastic Bottle Facts
With approximately 49,600 pounds recycled in 2007, YOU COULD...
- Approximately save 595.2 million BTUs.
- Approximately light one 60w bulb for 1.83 million hours.
- Approximately fill 7,176 sleeping bags or 122,028 ski jackets with fiberfill material.
- Approximately carpet 504 average size living rooms.
Glass Bottle Facts
With approximately 46,800 pounds recycled in 2007, YOU COULD...
- Approximately save 234 gallons of oil.
- Approximately light one 100w bulb for 445,536 hours.
- Approximately save 24 tons of natural resources.
Paper/Cardboard Facts
With approximately 63,400 pounds recycled in 2007, YOU COULD...
- Approximately save 756 gallons of gasoline.
- Approximately save 111.6 cubic yards of landfill space.
- Approximately save 540 mature trees.
- Approximately save 222,000 gallons of water.
- Approximately save 130,032 kilowatt hours of electricity.
Other Packers Green Team Efforts
General Office Practices
- Regularly educate our employees on environmental issues, and stress Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.
- Encourage less plastic bottle, utensil, plate and cup usage.
- Encourage use of water from water cooler instead of individual bottles.
- Encourage turning off lights when in meetings or away from office.
- Automatic shut-offs on equipment.
- Partner with environmentally friendly suppliers and companies.
Facilities and Fields
- Lighting
- Lighting around building scheduled only when the area is occupied. It is scheduled to go off two times per day in case they're turned on and not turned off.
- The bulbs in the wall sconces outside suites have been changed to compact fluorescent bulbs, a savings of 18,768 watts over the life of the bulbs.
- The bulbs in the goose neck fixtures over the signage and wall wash were changed to compact fluorescent bulbs, a savings of 19,250 watts over the life of the bulbs.
- The bulbs in the cooking hoods were changed to compact fluorescent bulbs in Curly's Pub.
- Installed switches in heavily used areas to better control lighting.
- Installing contactor with time clock to shut off all games in Curly's Pub. This will provide a savings of 32,114,160 watts per year.
- Installing occupancy sensors for bathrooms in public spaces (Atrium, Admin building, Hall of Fame) so lights are only on when needed.
- Recycle several thousand light bulbs, computer equipment, and metal each year.
- Temperature Controls
- Suite areas are kept at 60 degrees during heating season and at 80 degrees during cooling season when unused. Normal ranges are used for an event. Each suite is controlled individually.
- Reset hot water from boiler temperature using outside air temperature. This will save the boiler from running unnecessarily.
- All air handlers and fan coils that are used every day are on timed schedules so they are only used during hours that people are here. Some air handlers used on game days only.
- Areas that are unoccupied, such as the west side, concourse bathroom exhaust fans, Atrium air handlers, etc., are only run during games.
- Water Controls
- Metering faucets, set to run for seven seconds, are used in bathrooms, concession stands, and pantries throughout the stadium. Aerators on all faucets set at 2.0 gallons per minute.
- Flush valves on all toilets set at 1.6 gallons per flush. Flush valves on all urinals set at 1.0 gallons per flush.
- During offseason, water heaters and concession equipment are unplugged and shut down. All pilot lights and gas to concession equipment is shut down during offseason.
- Recycling
- Daily
- Recycling bins around the building and at each desk for bottles, cans, and paper products.
- Separate bins for garbage and cardboard placed at various events.
- Recycling compactor garnered over 207 tons of recyclable material during 2007.
- Game Days
- Recycling bins placed in concourses.
- Prior to sweeping the stands after the game, approximately 80 people pick up the plastic bottles from inside the stands. They are put in clear bags and dumped into two recycling trucks. Average game garners approximately two tons of recyclable material.
- Recycling bins are placed around the parking lot.
- Other
- All soap dispensers use foam soap. The type of soap is environmentally friendly. Doing this also saves man hours from changing the soap as often.
- Complete regular preventative maintenance so our equipment is operating at full capacity. (Packers receive an incentive from Focus on Energy for completing preventative maintenance on certain equipment.)
Pro Shop
- Sustainable Packaging
- All our corrugated boxes purchased from Green Bay Packaging are made from recycled corrugated and waste paper. The Green Bay mill stopped pulp production in 1991, converting at the time to 100 percent recycled material. In 1992, they also converted to a closed loop water recycling process, eliminating discharge of waste water into the Fox River. In September of 2007, they achieved 15 years without any direct discharge into the river.
- Our packaging fill paper is made of 100 percent recycled paper.
- Catalog
- The 2008 catalogs will be printed on paper that is FSC (Forest Stewardship Council Certification) certified meaning the wood products used to make the paper are recognized as coming from "well-managed" forests adhering to strict environmental and socioeconomic standards.
- Shopping Bags
- Paper shopping bags are made of 100 percent recycled paper.
- Transitioning to a plastic bag that is bio-degradable and recyclable. It has a life of 18 months once it is exposed to UV light.
- Warehouse Lighting
- As ballasts are dying, they are being replaced with energy-efficient ballasts. New energy-efficient bulbs also are being utilized.
Levy Restaurants at Lambeau Field
- Recycling
- On game days, Levy Restaurants recycles plastic, glass and aluminum in all nine Draft Pick locations. All glass is recycled in the club level and Curly's bars.
- Levy Restaurants has paper recycling bins in all its offices in the stadium.
- Employee Beverages
- Employee areas have been switched from bottled/canned soda and water to using fountain soda and water for all beverage consumption, reducing plastic bottle and can usage.
- To eliminate bottled water consumption from the offices, Levy Restaurants has moved to the five-gallon water jugs.
- Education
- Levy Restaurants uses pre-shift meetings as well as the Lambeau Letter newsletter to educate team members on "Going Green". Topics covered include everything from company initiatives to game day operations.
Other Resources
On the Internet:
Wisconsin Focus On Energy:
www.focusonenergy.com
NatureWiseŽ Renewable Energy Program from Wisconsin Public Service:
www.wisconsinpublicservice.com/news/naturewise.aspx
Wisconsin Public Service Energy-Saving Tools and Ideas:
www.wisconsinpublicservice.com/home/saving.aspx
Waste Management Educational Resources:
www.wm.com/wm/environmental/resources.asp |
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