New Orleans Hosts "Greenest" Game In Super Bowl History

NEW ORLEANS, Feb. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- It was the "greenest" game in Super Bowl history. The New Orleans Host Committee's (NOHC) Environmental Committee worked tirelessly for more than two years to implement a variety of environmental initiatives designed to "green" the game, the fans and the community of New Orleans. 

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(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130204/DA53760-INFO-b)    

"The New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committee Environmental Committee is dedicated to the integration of environmental ethics into all major events surrounding the Super Bowl, while minimizing its carbon footprint," said NOHC Environmental Committee Chair Patty Riddlebarger, Director of Corporate Social Responsibility, Entergy Corporation. "We are thankful for our community partners who embraced our committee's vision to make a "greener" game, fans and community a reality."

Initiatives surrounding "greening" the Super Bowl game itself focus specifically on the venues and include:

• Energy Usage: The estimated impact of emissions from energy usage at major Super Bowl venues – the Mercedes Superdome, Morial Convention Center, Team and NFL hotels – is estimated to be 4,600 MW of electricity, resulting in approximately 3.8 million pounds of CO2 emissions. The NOHC Environmental Committee has arranged with Entergy to donate carbon credits, which represent investments in projects that capture or remove CO2 from the atmosphere, to offset the estimated energy impact.
• Recycling: All major Super Bowl venues will offer recycling. Additionally, the NOHC Environmental Committee and Second Harvest Food Bank will recover unused food items from Super Bowl events to donate to local nonprofits. The NOHC Environmental Committee has also teamed up with the Green Project and Repurposing NOLA to reclaim Super Bowl banners, displays, signage and other promotional items, which will be manufactured into a myriad of souvenir items, such as tote bags, wallets and shower curtains.
• Transportation: Convenient and free bike valet parking services will be provided at the NFL Experience, through a partnership with Entergy Corporation, Bike Easy and the Downtown Development District. Additionally, the NOHC Environmental Committee in conjunction with Entergy Corporation, Bike Easy and the Downtown Development District will offer a Bike Share pilot program during Super Bowl week with bike checkouts at several convenient downtown locations.

Initiatives surrounding "greening" the fans attending the big game include:

• Geaux Green Game: NFL fans across the nation were invited to play the Geaux Green game, an online, interactive game that allows individuals to select from a menu of easy actions that individuals can take to reduce energy and their own carbon footprint. As of Friday, Jan. 11 NFL fans had pledged CO2 reductions totaling more than 21 million pounds of avoided greenhouse gasses, which is equivalent to planting 244,242 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.
• Greening Super Bowl Fan Travel: Fans who visit the New Orleans Host Committee Geaux Green web site (https://entergygeauxgreen.c2es.org/offset-your-travel) will be able to purchase carbon offsets from the same sources that are being used to offset the Super Bowl venues for as little as $5. Of note, Entergy Corporation will match every offset purchased on a 1 for 1 basis.

Initiatives surrounding "greening" the community of New Orleans include:

• Urban Forestry: The New Orleans Host Committee teamed up with Hike for KaTreena on an urban forestry initiative to plant and/or give away 7,000 trees, exceeding the previous Super Bowl record set in Dallas by 2,000 trees. The effort will culminate on the Super Saturday of Service on February 2, as Hike for KaTreena commemorates the planting of the organization's 20,000^th tree. 
• Coastal Restoration: The New Orleans Host Committee and the EPA are joining youth in the Houma area for a coastal restoration volunteer event scheduled for the Super Saturday of Service on February 2, which is also National Wetlands Day.
• Superkids Super Sharing: On Thursday, January 17, the NFL teamed up with the New Orleans Saints, the New Orleans Super Bowl Host Committee, Kingsley House and local public and private schools for Super Kids Super Sharing, a Super Bowl community impact program that puts books and sports equipment into the hands of local children and schools in need. 

The NOHC Environmental Committee members include representatives from America's Wetland, Entergy Corporation, Hike for KaTreena, Green Light New Orleans, Make It Right, Repurposing NOLA, Second Harvest Food Bank, and The Shaw Group.

For more information about the "greener" Super Bowl initiatives, please visit http://www.neworleanssuperbowl.com/environmental/index.php.

SOURCE New Orleans Host Committee