Welcome back to the Planet Forward blog for another edition of our weekly green news highlights. This week: Super Bowl XLVI is a lot greener than you think despite the huge consumption at the event; Leonardo DiCaprio: Lyon blend sustainable coffee benefitting the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation and various environmental charities; and wind power still growing in California. Just click on the links to learn more.

Image Credit: realclearsports.com

The Super Bowl XLVI: A Super Renewable Opportunity. Did you know that the NFL purchases renewable energy credits in Super Bowl host cities to offset energy consumption? That’s right, they offset the massive energy use and support renewable energy.  In fact, the NFL has been going green for a while now but they neglect to brag about their green initiatives when they should be loud and proud.  The NFL’s top two teams are league leaders in renewable energy and energy efficiency. ”The Patriots and Giants are leading the way to victory on the gridiron and off the grid. In late 2011, both teams joined the ranks of the Eagles, Redskins, and Cardinals, among others, in pursuing clean ways to power their stadiums.  The Giants share their home field, MetLife Stadium (host of the future 2014 Super Bowl), with the New York Jets in East Rutherford, New Jersey. The stadium’s location was built with access to public transportation in mind and the stadium itself was constructed with an eye toward preserving the surrounding meadowlands. Even the seats are made from recycled materials!”  And the New England Patriots “launched their own renewable energy campaign, promising to install one megawatt of solar power between Gillette Stadium and the surrounding entertainment center, Patriot Place. The installation, which is expected to reduce carbon emissions by more than 800 metric tons, will make the Patriots the league leader in renewable energy offsets.”  I’d say that’s a green touchdown. 

Leonardo DiCaprio Launches Charity Coffee Brand.  That’s right, DiCaprio has aligned with coffee roaster La Colombe Torrefaction for a high-end sustainable coffee line called Lyon.  100% of the net profits from Lyon will benefit environmental charities through the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation. “Raising awareness on the most pressing environmental issues of our time is more important than ever,” said Leonardo DiCaprio. “I am thrilled to be a part of this new project with La Colombe that will help aid the shift to a truly sustainable future for the planet and its inhabitants.” LYON will be sold in Williams Sonoma, select Whole Foods locations and La Colombe cafes.

Wind power blowing up in California. The LA Times reported that according to the California Wind Energy Association “wind energy now supplies about 5% of California’s total electricity needs, or enough to power more than 400,000 households.”  A lot of that was installed in the Tehachapi area of Kern County, with additional large projects in Solano, Contra Costa and Riverside counties as well.  “The total amount of wind energy installations in 2011 created a banner year for wind generation in California and is helping to drive California closer to reaching its goal of 33% renewable energy,” said Nancy Rader, executive director of the California Wind Energy Association.

And that’s it for this edition; stay tuned for more green news.

February 2, 2012
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