U.S. Green Building Council Announces LEED Certification for Six World Cup Stadiums

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WASHINGTON, June 17, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, in conjunction with the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) announced that six World Cup stadiums have achieved LEED certification, including South America's largest stadium, Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro.

Originally built and used for the 1950 FIFA World Cup, the LEED Silver Maracanã stadium is once again reprising its role by playing host for the final game of the 2014 World Cup. Maracanã will also serve as a major sporting venue for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, hosting both the opening and closing ceremonies as well as major sporting events.

The other LEED-certified stadiums for the 2014 FIFA World Cup include Castelao Arena in Fortaleza (LEED Certified), Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador (LEED Silver), Mineirão in Belo Horizonte (LEED Silver), Arena da Amazônia in Manaus (LEED Silver) and Arena Multiuso in Salvador (LEED Silver).

"Even as the world's top teams take the field, the venues themselves are also in the spotlight, demonstrating not only the worldwide applicability and adaptability of the LEED green building rating system, but also Brazil's leadership position at the forefront of the movement to high-performing green buildings," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, CEO and founding chair, USGBC. "FIFA and the Brazilian government have shown great leadership and commitment to mitigating the environmental impact of these World Cup facilities and for making them a showcase of sustainable construction for the international community."

Felipe Faria, managing director of Green Building Council Brasil, noted that the Brazilian construction firm responsible for the certification of Maracanã, Odebrecht, pushed the boundaries of sustainable innovation with Maracanã, including features such as photovoltaic panels on the roof, rainwater reservoirs and selective collection for waste.

"Just over 60 years from its completion for the 1950 World Cup, Maracanã is once again making history," said Faria. "Indeed, the entire country of Brazil is making history with these LEED stadiums. We are grateful for the leadership demonstrated by the professionals in the marketplace and applaud their achievements. The many green elements incorporated into these stadiums will reduce the environmental impact of the games on Brazil from improved transit access to lower water and energy consumption."

Each stadium incorporated multiple sustainable features that contributed to its LEED certification. For example, Castelao Arena features a 67.6 percent reduction in drinkable consumption, a 12.7 percent reduction in annual energy consumption and a 97 percent of the project waste was diverted from the landfill. Arena Fonte Nova, meanwhile, used 20 percent of its building materials made from recycled content, diverted 75 percent of the project's construction waste from the landfill and purchased 35 percent of its power from renewable sources like solar and wind. 

Brazil is among the Top 5 countries worldwide with LEED-certified projects, encompassing nearly three million gross square meters of LEED-certified space.

To date, project teams in more than 150 countries and territories have implemented LEED in their building projects, taking advantage of LEED's framework to create structures that mitigate greenhouse gas emissions; provide healthier indoor environments for the people in the buildings; and lower utility bills for building owners through reduced energy and water use.

Collectively, more than 59,000 commercial and institutional projects are participating in LEED, representing 1.02 billion GSM worldwide.

About the U.S. Green Building Council

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is committed to a prosperous and sustainable future through cost-efficient and energy-saving green buildings. USGBC works toward its mission of market transformation through its LEED green building program, robust educational offerings, a nationwide network of chapters and affiliates, the annual Greenbuild International Conference & Expo, the Center for Green Schools and advocacy in support of public policy that encourages and enables green buildings and communities. For more information, visit usgbc.org, explore the Green Building Information Gateway (GBIG) and connect on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn.

About LEED

The U.S. Green Building Council's LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) green building certification system is the world's foremost program for the design, construction, maintenance and operations of green buildings. Every day, 1.7 million square feet (158,000 square meters) of space is certified using LEED. LEED seeks to optimize the use of natural resources, promote regenerative and restorative strategies, maximize the positive and minimize the negative environmental and human health consequences of the construction industry, and provide high-quality indoor environments for building occupants. LEED certification demonstrates leadership, innovation, environmental stewardship and social responsibility. LEED gives building owners and operators the tools they need to immediately improve both building performance and the bottom line. Learn more at usgbc.org/LEED.  

Contact: Jacob Kriss
Media Specialist, USGBC
202-595-3992
[email protected]

SOURCE U.S. Green Building Council