Your Stadium |Sustainable Stadium
When the New York Jets and New York Giants kickoff their 2010 seasons, they won't just have a new stadium to call home, they'll be playing in one of the greenest venues in sports thanks to a partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). EPA and the New Meadowlands Stadium Company, the stadium's principal owner, signed a memorandum of understanding that outlines plans to incorporate environmentally-friendly materials and practices into the construction and operation of New Meadowlands Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J.
"The New Meadowlands Stadium will be one of the greenest stadiums in American professional sports," said EPA Acting Regional Administrator George Pavlou. "This ambitious, comprehensive plan set forth by the two team ownership groups is a blueprint for new sports venues everywhere."
- Wetlands and Wildlife Protection
- Construction Green Practices
- Water Conservation
- Energy Management
- Recycling, Composting and Solid Waste Programs
- Fan and Community Initiatives
- VII. Misc. - Office Management and Administration
I. Wetlands and Wildlife Protection
Brownfields Redevelopment
The New Stadium will not occupy any undeveloped lands or "green fields", nor will it have impacts on environmentally sensitive areas or wildlife habitat in the Meadowlands area.
Stormwater Management
Porous pavement: Crushed granite stone material is used in lieu of plantings or concrete medians on site, allowing rain water to recharge groundwater and thereby reducing storm water flow into the sensitive surrounding environmental area. 188,000 square feet of decomposed granite, equal to 4.5 acres or 4 football fields, is used in medians to reduce watering needs, saving approximately 2 million gallons of water per year.
II. Construction Green Practices
Clean Fuels and Lower Emissions
With the use of low sulfur diesel fuel and diesel particulate filters on all construction equipment, there is a 13% particulate materials reduction with the use of ultra low sulfur fuels; an additional 80-90% particulate materials reduction as a result of the use of diesel particulate filters, and an additional 40-60% reduction in particulate materials due to use of equipment with diesel oxidation catalysts
Construction Recycling Program
Overall, we have diverted 2,314 tons of material since the beginning of construction in May 2007 to December 2008, recycling 82% of the total waste generated during construction operations. Approximately 200 tons of asphalt millings have been reused onsite for utility work. 1800 tons of concrete has been reused onsite during construction operations.
The 210,000 cubic yard hole created by the demolition of existing Giants Stadium will be filled with recycled and salvaged demolition materials and onsite historic fill. Approximately 100,000 tons of concrete and 20,000 tons of steel will be diverted from offsite landfills as a result. Our goal is to have little or no impact on NJ landfills.
Our construction office recycling protocols and sound environmental management efforts for 2008 have resulted in 41,645 pounds of paper recycled, 145,758 gallons of water saved, 85,372 KW hours of electricity saved, and 9,578 gallons of oil saved.
Construction Materials Reuse Program
- 22,000 tons of scrap has been utilized in the manufacturing of the structural steel for the New Stadium.
- 2280 tons of scrap has been utilized in the manufacturing of the rebar installed for the New Stadium.
- All 8000+ piles for the New Stadium are manufactured from post industrial steel scrap or salvage from unused piles from the petrochemical industry (16,000 tons).
- Stadium general admission seating will be made of 20% post consumer plastics and 80% iron. Stadium general admission seating will utilize 560 tons of scrap iron and 51 tons of scrap plastic.
- Club and suite seats will be made with the goal of 30% post consumer plastics and 40% iron.
- 10% of the exterior wall fins or roughly 40 tons contain recycled aluminum.
"Buy Local" Program and Green Products/Materials
To date, we have purchased $680 million in construction materials from the local marketplace.
- 83% of our contractors are from New Jersey, New York or Pennsylvania with over 70% from New Jersey. 100% of the workforce is local.
- Over half of all interior finish products are "green" certified (e.g., Greenguard, Green Label, Forest Council). All carpet and carpet tile products, interior paints, coatings, ceiling tiles, composite wood and all ceramic tile adhesives use of low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) or have recycled content. Post consumer recycled products (benches) TBD in plaza areas.
- Fly ash: 25% of the total cubic yards of concrete for the overall project will be made of coal combustion products (e.g., fly ash). The fly ash product will be used for 100% of the site work, equal to over 17,200 cubic yards of concrete and will be in place for all plazas, curbs, light pole foundations, etc.
The New Stadium is committed to reducing water demand by an estimated 11,000,000 gallons per year or a 25% reduction in the average annual water demand compared to the existing stadium. The major water conservation design features that contribute to an overall reduction in water demand are:
- Selection of synthetic turf as opposed to natural grass for New Stadium playing field - savings of 3,500,000 gallons of water per year compared to natural grass.
- Use of waterless urinals throughout the men's restrooms in New Stadium - savings of 2,700,000 gallons of water per year.
- Use of native planting species, which are low water plantings and high-efficiency irrigation systems with a 95% efficiency rate compared to conventional irrigation systems that operate at an efficiency rate of 60%, resulting in the goal of saving 700,000 gallons of water per year.
- Low-flush toilets in restrooms - rate of 1.6 gallons per flush compared to 3.5 gallons per flush; low-flow showerheads - rate of 2.5 gallons per minute per head compared to 5.5 gallons per minute for conventional; sensored and metered faucets to reduce water demand and conserve potable water with 0.5 gallons per minute flow restrictors compared to typical metered faucet that uses up to 2 gallons per minute.
The New Stadium is more than twice as large as the existing Giants Stadium in terms of square footage, but we expect a reduction of energy use of roughly 30% as a result of:
- Energy efficient and United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Energy-Star compliant concession equipment, heating cooling and ventilation systems, and lighting, which use 25-50% less energy, reduce energy costs without compromising quality of performance, reduce air pollution, provide a significant return on investment, and typically have an extended product life and decreased maintenance.
- Automated lighting control system for all sports lighting, site lighting, interior space lights and security lighting to minimize energy consumption through central systems. Purchase of high efficiency tube and compact fluorescents in all stadium light fixtures.
- Energy efficient Low E coating/glazing of windows. New Stadium glass transmits 56% less destructive UV light, is 51% better as an insulator, and is 24% better at reducing heat gain than in the existing Giants Stadium, while only sacrificing 3% of the total visible light.
- State of the art stadium lighting - The luminaries specified in the new stadium are 84% efficient and minimize light spill. The new fixtures have a tighter beam spread, oval reflector system, and internal glare cut off skirts, which produces lighting efficiencies and minimizes wasted light to sky. The luminaries at the existing stadium are 77% efficient.
- Parking lot luminaries meet "nighttime friendly" criteria. Fixtures have 0% uplight, meet IESNA definition for full cutoff optics and reduce high angle brightness.
- Outdoor transformers will use biodegradable fuels and reusable fluids.
- We have joined with the NJSEA in an RFP process to select a vendor who will design, finance, build and maintain alternative energy systems on site related to solar power. We also are working with the NJSEA to purchase power from alternative energy providers via green power procurement programs - particularly wind - and to study other energy saving and power generating ideas.
V. Recycling, Composting and Solid Waste Programs
The new stadium commits to reduce solid waste production during its operation by 25% through recycling and composting programs. 50 tons of solid waste is produced on average game day in the parking areas and another 20 tons is produced in the stadium.
- Installation of recycling bins in the parking lots and in stadium.
- Separate and bail all corrugated paper products/cardboard on site.
- Recycle or provide for salvage to others - wood pallets.
- Recycling of concessionaire's waste streams by recyclable (cooking oils), compostable (food waste), and non-recyclable.
- Establish team store recycling programs as part of vendor selection RFP with these goals.
- Donate or salvaging of materials following events (building supplies, plants, centerpieces, decorations, etc).
- Use of compostable serving items in the concessions, including concession plates, cups, cup holders/carriers, boats, etc.
- All compostable items will be sent to local farms or will go directly to NJ certified compost facility in Woodbridge.
VI. Fan and Community Initiatives
Promote use of mass transit (train and bus) and car pooling/ride sharing for events - NJ Transit estimates that 10,000 plus fans will use the new rail system to the Complex on game days and another 2000-3000 fans will use the public bus system. In total, approximately 4000 cars will be off the roadways on game day through these alternative transportation options.
Develop comprehensive fan education and participation programs (public service announcements; scoreboard messages; "green" program goals and achievements via web site portal; Green Promotional Events).
VII. Misc. - Office Management and Administration
Develop green procurement standard specifications for maintenance-related RFPs. Use of green products for cleaning purposes (floor wax, carpet shampoo, window cleaning, etc.). Sponsorship of employee "green" programs (e.g., community tree planting, clothes donation programs, etc.). Purchase of Energy Star office equipment. Purchase alternative fuel vehicles for onsite use (gators, carts, etc). Installation of bike racks.
