FIFA announces 2014 sustainability strategy

The organising committee of the Brazil 2014 World Cup (LOC) and FIFA have announced the details of a strategy to make next year’s competition the greenest ever. The sustainability strategy developed by FIFA and the LOC aims not only to mitigate the negative impact but also to maximise the positive effects of hosting the FIFA World Cup. Green stadia, waste management, community sport, reducing and offsetting carbon emissions, renewable energy, climate change and capacity development are some of the key issues addressed.

A total of approximately US$20m (15m euro, £13m) will be invested by FIFA in the implementation of the strategy. Further support for the sustainability effort will be provided by FIFA’s commercial affiliates and other stakeholders. The strategy builds on the experience gained from environemntal and social development programmes at FIFA tournaments since 2005, on international standards such as ISO 26000 and the Global Reporting Initiative and on the development policies of the government of Brazil. The 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil will be the first FIFA World Cup to have a comprehensive sustainability strategy.

Federico Addiechi, FIFA’s head of corporate social responsibility, said: “The goal is to stage an event that uses resources wisely, striking a balance between economic aspects, social development and environmental protection. We want the 2014 World Cup to be remembered not only as a fantastic football tournament, but also for its lasting social and environmental legacy.”

The concrete methods include:
- Green Buildings: Many of the stadiums in Brazil are planning to achieve LEED certification and are installing solar panels to generate renewable energy. In addition, FIFA and LOC will organise certified training courses on sustainable management for stadium managers
- Waste management: The objective of a new waste law in Brazil is to better control the handling and the destination of waste. FIFA and LOC will promote recycling in collaboration with local cooperatives.
- Climate change: FIFA and LOC will estimate the tournament’s carbon footrint and develop wide-ranging measures to avoid, reduce and offset its emissions
- Volunteer training: Additional training modules will be offered to all 2014 FIFA World Cup volunteers enhancing their future employment opportunities.

Next year’s World Cup will be the most eco-friendly in history. More than US$20m will be invested in delivering a sustainability strategy

Metlife Stadium

The Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey, US only opened in 2010 but has already made its name as one of the most sustainable stadiums in American professional sports. Making the venue green was one of the key issues for the New York Giants and New York Jets - the two NFL teams that built and now operate the venue through a 50/50 partnership – MetLife Stadium Company.

The New Stadium, built on the site of the former Giants Stadium, has succeeded in reducing water demand by an estimated 11m gallons per year – or a 25 per cent reduction in the average annual water demand. The major water conservation design features include synthetic turf – saving 3.5m gallons of water per year – and the waterless urinals throughout the men’s restrooms, saving an additional 2,7m gallons per year.

Metlife also uses energy efficient and United States Environmental Protection Agency Energy-Star compliant concession equipment, heating cooling and ventilation systems and lighting, which use 25-50 per cent less energy. This reduces costs without compromising quality of performance, reduces air pollution, provides a significant return on investment, and typically has an extended product life and decreased maintenance.

Energy efficient Low E coating/glazing has also been used in the windows. Compared to the old Giants Stadium, the glass used at Metlife transmits 56 per cent less destructive UV light, is 51 per cent better as an insulator, and is 24 per cent better at reducing heat gain – while only sacrificing 3 per cent of the total visible light available.

There’s also a long-term commitment to reducing solid waste by 25 per cent through recycling and composting programmes. Fifty tons of solid waste is produced on an average game day in the parking areas and another 20 tons is produced in the actual stadium.

Fan behaviour and eco-awareness among spectators is another area that Metlife is seeking to influence. Both teams actively promote the use of public transport and car pooling/ride sharing for spectactors travelling to events. There’s a comprehensive fan education and participation programs which uses public service announcements; scoreboard messages; “green” programme goals and achievements via web site portal; Green Promotional Events.

The stadium currently saves 3,5m gallons of water each year by using a range of green solutions

Pulse Fitness

Pulse Fitness cardiovascular equipment offer sports clubs a cordless machine inclusive of an imbedded digital TV and an iPod docking facility.

Users can watch and listen to their own movies and music while charging their iPod or Smart phone. The features could produce an annual utility saving of £150 per machine, as well as reduce the demand for air handling units.

Pulse also offers a self-powered connectivity retention and member management system called Smart Centre, which works without the need for power or data. Pulse’s strength equipment offers a 1:15 ratio for training partners on all its strength and cable machines – based on the requirement of one 13amp socket drawing 3/4amps to power-up 1 – 15 strength machines.

The Smart Centre system has been designed to help sport and health and fitness facilities provide a management system to help the recruitment of members, retain members and manage their performance, while keeping utility costs down to a minimum.

Users can charge their devices using the kit

RIO 2006

As part of its plans to create ‘green venues for a green Games’, the Rio 2016 Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games has adopted a Sustainability Supply Chain Programme and established a concreting plant at the Olympic Village construction site.

The new plant will produce 90 per cent of the total volume of the concrete at its own construction site, reducing carbon emission by 700 tons throughout the whole operational period. The sustainable supply chain will see eco-friendly products being used in the building and administration processes.

Tania Braga, Rio 2016’s head of sustainability and legacy, said: “By exclusively purchasing certified wood and paper, we generate a positive environmental impact as we prevent deforestation. All our purchases will take environmental certifications into consideration, an innovative approach for supply chains. Another important fact is the existence of integral logistic planning for the disposal of all the products and packages acquired for the Games.”

Since winning the bid in 2009, the Rio team has made sustainability a priority of its Games design

Six Senses

The luxury Six Senses Con Dao resort on the island of Con Son in Vietnam has come up with a novel way for guests to practise their golf swings.

The resort has introduced Ecobioball – balls that have a core made out of fish food. The food is released when the outer cover of the ball biodegrades – around 48 hours after coming into contact with water.

Although ardent golfers will find the ball a little sluggish for competition on the greens, it is perfect for practice.

While the idea might seem outlandish, there is a serious side to the initiative – the balls are a more sustainable way for guests to play golf in a region that has a beautiful yet vulnerable eco system. There is no need for floodlighted driving ranges as the ball can be safely launched from any surface. The ball also supports Six Senses corporate commitment to the environment and, perhaps most importantly, gives local fish a free lunch.

The fish food golf balls could revolutionise the way coastal courses design driving ranges

Thornton Sports

The SudsSports sustainable drainage system from Thornton Sports has recently been installed at Denby Dale Tennis Club.

The club, based in Huddersfield, is located adjacent to a river which floods periodically, so a system was required that would also provide water management capabilities. The SudsSports system comprises of a lightweight plastic sub-base replacement layer, which allows shallow attenuation, high infiltration and drainage. Hence it is ideal for sites such as that at Denby Dale Tennis Club, where there’s a risk of flooding.

Given the lightweight method of construction, no heavy construction plant is required for installation – an added advantage for the project at Denby, due to the site’s access limitations.

Alongside the drainage system, Denby Dale also invested in Thornton Sports’ new Classic Match tennis surface, which simulates the playing characteristics of clay. The terracotta artificial grass surface slows down the ball and provides a high bounce, while providing the club with a high performance, cost-effective and low maintenance alternative to clay.

Roland Sansom, of Denby Dale Tennis Club said: “We’re delighted that Thornton Sports have been able to provide us with the high performance slow-pace surface we require, while minimising flood risk to the courts.”

Thyagaraj Stadium

New Delhi’s Thyagaraj Stadium is the first in the country to receive a gold rating from the Indian Green Building Council (IGBC). Designed by architects Peddle Thorp for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, the venue has earned a CII-IGBC-Gold rating.

Eco-friendly solutions at Thyagraj include the use of solar panels to provide all electricity for lighting – with any excess generated being fed into Delhi’s main power grid using integrated photovoltaic cells. Other key features incorporated in the stadium include the use of rainwater harvesting for flushing and horticulture, double-insulated glazing and an independent sewage treatment plant with a capacity of more than 200,000 litres a day.

Thyagraj Stadium is owned by the Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi (GNCTD) and is part of the larger Thyagraj Sports Complex. GNCTD’s Chief Minister.

Sheila Dikshit said the award reflected Delhi’s pioneering role in promoting eco-friendly practices that would encourage other states in the country to become more “green”.

The Thyagaraj Stadium’s indoor arena

Coventry gets GEO

Established in 1887 Coventry Golf Club celebrated its 125th anniversary by receiving the international ecolabel GEO Certified in recognition of outstanding sustainability efforts across its course, as well as outreach work into the surrounding community.

Phil Weaver, course manager – who’s also chair of the PGA of Great Britain and Ireland – was part of the driving force behind Coventry Golf Club’s journey through the GEO OnCourse programme that led to the GEO Certified ecolabel.

Weaver said: “We recognise the pressures on the environment. Golf clubs have an important responsibility to take their stewardship of the land seriously. In the last few years we’ve become much more aware and active, making sustainability a consideration in every decision. The GEO OnCourse programme was easy to follow and made sure we thought about a wide range of practical areas and there were suggestions for improvements as we went along.

GEO is a stakeholder-funded, not-for-profit organisation, dedicated to helping the global golf community establish leadership in environmental enhancement.

Wireless Energy

DW Sports is in the process of adopting wireless building energy management systems (BEMS). Designed, installed and commissioned by WEMS International, trials have been completed at three sites, with average energy savings of more than 17 per cent. DW Sports are now embarking on a phased roll-out programme.

Dan Hubbard, the company’s utilities manager, said: “At board level, DW Sports is committed to energy reduction and sustainability in a very real and proactive way. We’d made some inroads by addressing the ‘low hanging fruit’ but knew the real energy efficiency solutions involved taking greater control of plant.”

DW Sports’ ready-built estate featured two BEMS, controlling some kit, plus a lot of independent control. The company wanted to remove “human error” from the equation in terms of more efficient operation and control of the estate. The WEMS solution was able to bring all of the controls together.

Hubbard said: “We went through a phase of evaluating and re-evaluating the available energy control technology that could help us achieve our targets. For us, technology must be a safe investment, must not affect the customer experience in our fitness centres, and must go on in the background so as not to cause distraction or disruption.

For these reasons, the installation of a wireless solution such as WEMSystem made perfect sense. Hubbard and DW Sports team have worked closely with WEMS to scrutinise the initial data and optimise the trial sites to achieve maximum savings. Wherever waste is identified, a solution is presented to rectify the situation.

The wireless system is delivering an average energy saving of 17 per cent at three sites