The Seattle Mariners have a strong history of evaluating and controlling the environmental impact of their franchise.
From 2006 to 2009, the team was able to reduce their natural gas usage by 60 percent, their electricity by 30 percent and their water use by 15 percent. Then, last year the team adopted an aggressive recycling program to limit their waste. By the end of the year using these green initiatives the Mariners had reduced the amount of trash that they were sending to landfills by 70 percent, saving the team an incredible half million dollars a year. Earlier this month, the team actually skipped their bobblehead give-away and instead launched a compost bag fan giveaway which provided game goers with a way to take part in the eco-movement at home using things discarded at past Mariners’ games.
If one team can enjoy such environmental and economic success, why hasn’t impact evaluation turned into an eco-phenomenon? Recent events instill some hope.
The Green Sports Alliance
While the Mariners have been taking eco-friendly steps for years, a new collaboration could provide the team, and others like them, a better vehicle to measure and share their progress. The Green Sports Alliance is a non-profit formed by six professional teams in the Pacific Northwest: The Vancouver Canucks (NHL), the Seattle Storm (WNBA), the Seattle Mariners (MLB), the Seattle Seahawks (NFL), the Portland Trail Blazers (NBA) and the Seattle Sounders FC (MLS).
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