FIFA World Cup 2010: Scoring green at the big event

South African department of environmental affairs and tourism and the local Norwegian embassy studied players’ entourages as they travel around, the construction of the sites, energy used at the stadiums, accommodation and fans traveling, and concluded that the 2010 FIFA World Cup will be responsible for a massive 2.8 million tons of CO2 emissions. It further equals to 6,000 space shuttle flights or three years’ inactivity for Mount Etna.

world cup ball

However, Blessing Manale, chief director of planning and coordination and information for the Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism, said last year:

The games will not begin if they are not green… We are going to make 2010 the greenest World Cup yet.

As millions of besotted soccer fans wish the event to go on without any reservations, the SA government, respective soccer teams, the UNEP, renewable energy forerunners, and the eco-architects have come together to ensure that the carbon footprint of the event goes as low as is possible. Some of their eco-endeavors include:

Green Stadiums:

• Moses Mabhida Stadium – Durban

moses mabhida stadium durban

30,000 cubic meters of concrete demolition material from the old stadium has been reused to erect the new stadium. Aside from it, the 62,760-seater stadium also features water-saving installation, rainwater collection, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems. More of natural lighting and ventilation is used to reduce the energy consumption.

• Soccer City Stadium – Johannesburg

soccer city stadium johannesburg

Boogertman Urban Edge & Partners Design has decked the Soccer City Stadium with new fiberC glass fiber concrete panels. Rieder Smart Elements will deliver 40,000 panels for cladding which means 40% less global warming potential than fiber cement panels.

• Green Point Stadium - Cape Town

green point stadium cape town

The Green Point Stadium, designed to seat 68,000 spectators on three tiers, will house itself inside an exterior shell that is designed as an abstract, linearly arranged membrane construction. The light membrane features a translucent surface to absorb and reflect the effect of the existing daylight. Even after the soccer fever is over, the stadium will continue to be the city's attraction.

• Peter Mokaba Stadium - Polokwane

peter mokaba stadium polokwane

The shape of the locally iconic Baobab tree inspires AFL Architects & local practice Prism to design the 45,000-seater Peter Mokaba World Cup Stadium. The efficiency of the design is emphasized through a hierarchy of 'tree' structures that keeps repeating itself. The site offers convenient access, parking and circulation for followers of Football and Rugby fixtures.

• Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium - Port Elizabeth

nelson mandela bay stadium

Designed by gmp architekten, the Nelson Mandela Bay Multi-Purpose Stadium takes the shape of a flower as it rises from the edge of the lake. Climate-adaptive roof structure protects spectators against the sun and onshore winds. Triangulated trusses with white PTFE membrane surfaces clad themselves in aluminum. The design takes account not only of function, technical and climatic aspects but also cultural considerations as well. An open area between the stadium and the sea offers space for water-based recreation.

Recycled dresses:

recycled dresses

Players from nine soccer teams will don themselves in environmentally friendly jerseys made from recycled plastic bottles. A Taiwanese firm has made these shirts from recycled plastic bottles. The shirts – each made from eight molten and reprocessed plastic bottles – are 13 percent lighter than conventional fabric and it can absorb and disperse sweat more quickly. Brazilian, the Netherlands and Portuguese team will be sporting the shirts. More here.

Carbon offset projects:

Combining various renewable energy technologies, such as solar and wind energy, the Department of Environmental Affairs (DEA) in South Africa, in liaison with the Departments of Energy, Department of Tourism, Central Energy Fund, Eskom and the Local Organizing Committee, has identified five carbon offset projects for offsetting travelers' emissions:

• Solar Cookers by Sunfire Solutions

sunfire solar cooker

Sunfire solutions will proffer soccer fans with solar-cooked food made with their Parabolic Solar Cookers.

• Soil composting by Soil and More Reliance

soil composting

SMR produces high quality composted products, places and removes bulk waste skips, manufactures inoculants, provides consulting services, and trains entrepreneurs to start a compost facility anywhere in South Africa or Africa. Combining their efforts with the eco-concern shown by DEA, the company will seek to counter carbon emissions.

• Wind energy by Mainstream

mainstream renewable power

Mainstream is the initiator of several wind farm projects in Africa and elsewhere. The renewable energy leader has also partnered with the DEA for offsetting traveler's emissions.

• LED energy efficient lighting retrofit program by Lemnis Lighting

pharox light bulb

Lemnis Lighting has commenced the "LED's Kick Off" program, a large scale retrofitting of inefficient lighting with LEDs in hotels, office buildings, households, street lighting and in rural areas. The company will donate a portion of the carbon credits generated from this mass rollout of LED lighting to the DEA to offset the domestic carbon footprint of the World Cup 2010 event. Lemnis Lighting's complete range of Pharox LED products, high efficiency street lights with Lemnis' revolutionary mesopic lighting technology, and the off-grid Pharox Solar will be used for the program. More here.

Carbon-Neutral Commercial Display:

yingli commercial display

Image Credit: FIFA

Yingli Solar, one of the world's largest vertically integrated photovoltaic manufacturers, has unveiled its carbon-neutral Commercial Display at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa for partners and sponsors of the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where they can display their products and brands. Estimates say that the display could generate approximately 1,500 kilowatt-hours of electricity and would offset nearly 1.5 tons of coal equivalent carbon dioxide if used for a year. The display also makes use of wood, bamboo, and other materials locally sourced in South Africa. More here.

Waste reduction and recycling measures:

fifa fan fest

The FIFA Fan Fest in Cape Town has introduced a series of event-greening measures to reduce the negative environmental effect of the festival. The measures include:

• A two-bin waste separation and recycling system,

• The sale of reusable souvenir cups instead of single-use disposable cups,

• The use of large dispensers for condiments and sugar instead of single-sachet servings

• The serving of beer and soft drinks in a commemorative cup from draught and soda fountains,

• The use of reusable crockery, cutlery and plastic crates,

• The prohibition of promotional handouts and flyers at entrances to the Fan Fest

Image Credit: Top Image