Major League Soccer to Build Solar Panels on Local Schools
Posted November 20, 2011 in Curbing Pollution, Environmental Justice, Green Enterprise, Health and the Environment, Living Sustainably, Moving Beyond Oil, Reviving the World's Oceans, Saving Wildlife and WIld Places, Solving Global Warming, The Media and the Environment
Tonight the LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo go head to head, battling not only to be MLS Cup Champions but also for the chance to award a school in their home city with a small solar array and energy education program.
At halftime, MLS W.O.R.K.S., Major League Soccer's community outreach initiative, will announce that solar panels will be installed at a local school in the city of the MLS Cup champion—either LA or Houston—by Earth Day 2012. Right after the announcement the following video introducing the Solar 4R Schools program will play on the stadium JumboTron.
Broadcasting their commitment to educating the next generation of energy users, MLS W.O.R.K.S. and Continental Tire have combined efforts with Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) and the NRDC to participate in BEF’s Solar 4R Schools project. Solar 4R Schools provides schools nationwide with hands-on teaching tools including science kits, lesson plans and photovoltaic solar arrays to help students learn about the importance of solar, wind and other renewable energy technologies.
Both teams already have a history of working to protect the environment. In April 2011, the Dynamo partnered with Greenstar Recycling for Earth Day and undertook a host of environmental initiatives, including offsetting all game electricity use and distributing NRDC eco-tip guides to all fans.
And earlier this week, the Home Depot Center, home of the LA Galaxy, was awarded ISO 14001 Certification for the third-party review of its Environmental Management System (EMS). The first outdoor stadium to achieve ISO 14001 Certification, AEG’s Home Depot Center is opening up its environmental stewardship efforts to the public by supplementing and organizing the venue's existing initiatives.
Later tonight, MLS W.O.R.K.S. and Continental Tire will also announce their investment in helping MLS clubs, fans and communities reduce their carbon footprint. Green-e certified renewable energy based Carbon Offsets purchased from BEF have offset 319 metric tons of CO2 associated with the estimated fan travel to and from the Home Depot Center for tonight’s match.
This is the equivalent of taking over 62 cars off the road for an entire year. Green-e certified Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) purchased from BEF ensure that only green energy will be used in association with MLS Cup 2011. This REC purchase for MLS Cup supports enough renewable energy to power over 10 average U.S. homes in one year.
So kids, remember, when you’re cheering your home team on tonight you’re not only rooting for the opportunity to gloat at school the next day, but also for the chance to get solar panels installed on your school. Come to think of it, parents -- cheer louder!
