On the eve of Super Bowl 2015, most people are making plans for watching the big game and eating wings. Here at energytrends.org we are taking a look at the carbon footprint of this annual, all-American tradition.
The National Football League (NFL) has made efforts in recent years to offset the energy consumed at the big game. It is estimated that the carbon footprint of a Super Bowl event is 3.8 million pounds of CO2 emissions or the annual tailpipe emissions of about 400 American passenger cars. Prior to this year’s game at the University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the NFL planted 170 trees in various parks across the state. This is part of the NFL Urban Forestry Program that is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year.
On the energy front, the NFL sought out alternative forms of power so that the stadium and other nearby venues are powered with energy from wind turbines in New Mexico and Oregon and geothermal plants in California. In addition, the NFL is donating thousands of pounds of leftover food from Super Bowl related events to area food banks. The League is also partnering with the Waste Management Phoenix to offer and encourage recycling and composting to visitors and vendors.
While these efforts are noteworthy, critics say the air and car travel polluntants to and from the Super Bowl venues remain unaddressed. Options for improvements in this area could include a ‘carbon credit’ in the form of a fee for NFL employees and players for their travel. NFL officials acknowledge there is still room for improvement: From Earthlab.com: “If creating a mess is part of our business plan, then cleaning it up needs to be part of the model as well,” said Jack Groh, director of the NFL Environmental Program.
