It is football season!  Although, I’m not a huge fan, I can appreciate it.  Especially the passion that the fans carry for the sport.

NFL football is the number one sport in the United States – at least as far as fan support and revenue goes.  So, when one of their teams say that they want to lessen their impact on the environment, we need to pay attention!  Especially when it’s a big team like the San Francisco 49ers!  California tends to lead the country in environmental awareness so this could be the start of something big!

A game at a professional football stadium requires enough electricity to power 2,269 homes for a day.  That’s a lot of houses!  A stadium holds tens of thousands of fans who come to support their team, but also go home realizing that they too can do something to help the environment.  The new 49ers stadium will be talked about and seen on TV by millions of people.  Hopefully, the eco-friendly theme is something that catches on with other teams.

Football is a big and influential business.  Countless children and adults look up to sports teams and their players.  Now there’s a chance for people who don’t normally live an environmentally friendly life style to hear about green issues and they will be introduced to a greener way of life.

Other sports teams have gotten into the swing of things as well.  The Suns have focused on lowering their carbon footprint by rethinking old habits and providing fans with 100% organic shirts or reusable bags during game giveaways.

In Major League Baseball, each baseball club decides its level of commitment, which can range from recycling paper cups to creating more environmentally friendly ballparks.  Some teams have begun to purchase renewable sources, such as wind and solar to power their ballparks and training facilities.  In the front office, green efforts include buying postconsumer recycled paper, making double sided copies and encouraging employees to separate their recycling from their regular garbage. Every little bit counts.

Teams also engage in public education by providing eco-friendly tips during games and like Stevenson, some baseball clubs have their own “green teams” to collect stadium recyclables.

So, no matter what sport you love, think about it, if they can do it then so can we because it is easy being green!

Jennifer Jesperson