LEED Green Power for the Washington Nationals

The DC Sports and Entertainment Commission has invested in renewable energy credits (RECs), which fulfill the LEED Green Power Credit under the USGBC's LEED for New Construction Rating System, making their Washington Nationals Stadium the first of its kind certified under the system. Their purchase of 14,600,706 kWh of renewable energy accounts for 70% of the electricity used by the ballpark, and their offset is similar to planting 80,214 trees, or not driving 19,889,737 miles in an average U.S. passenger car (an equivalent of 799 trips around the world!). All in all, their purchase helps prevent 8,841 metric tons of CO2 from being released into the atmosphere.

Other sustainable and environmentally friendly features of the stadium are:

• Choice of location to maximize accessibility to the public and promote urban revitilization
• Usage of 20% recycled materials for construction, much of which were sourced locally
• A 30% reduction of water usage through plumbing fixtures that conserve resources (saving an estimated 3.6 million galls on water per year)
• Recycling services throughout the stadium
• High-efficiency lighting for the field that reduces light pollution and has a projected 21 percent energy saving
• a 6,300 square-foot green roof that utilizes high-reflective properties that reduce the amount of heat released to the environment