Nationals Park the Sustainable Site of 2015 Winter Classic

The NHL has announced that the Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals will play on an outdoor rink at Nationals Park for the 2015 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic this year. The rink is constructed above the infield at National Park, which made history when it opened in 2008 as the nation’s first major sports venue to achieve the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED certification (Silver).Previously a brownfield redevelopment, National Park has now been lauded for its greener building features such as the 6,300-square food green roof, the first atop any sports venue; high-efficiency field lighting and an LED scoreboard, which enhance both game presentation and have reduced energy consumption by 21%; water-efficient plumbing and bathroom fixtures that use 30% less water than comparable facilities, saving about 3.6 million gallons of water per year; and the wide variety of public transportation options, including rail, bike and nine bus routes—the ballpark even offers fans a unique bike valet service on game days.Nationals Park will assist the NHL in tracking the energy use, water consumption, and waste diversion associated with the 2015 NHL Winter Classic. NHL will document transportation of players, as well as League and Club employees. Emissions resulting from the energy, water, waste and club transportation associated with the 2015 NHL Winter Classic will be counterbalanced through the NHL’s partnership with Constellation, which supports the development of renewable energy. This means that all energy needs will be met with an equivalent investment in clean electricity from wind or biomass sources.The 2015 NHL Winter Classic, one of the NHL’s premiere events, helps celebrate hockey’s roots. Selecting Nationals Park, recognized as a leader in more sustainable venue design, reinforces the NHL’s commitment to sustainability and preserving the tradition of outdoor hockey.Read the full article.