Wolf Tracking

Play Ball! Two words that most of us long to hear after a balmy winter season where the only time baseball was muttered was when players were gasping for air from the lies regarding the misuse of steroids. Now, as our NCAA tournament brackets are closing, we can look towards the wonderful world of RBI’s and double plays from Santana, Utley, Jeter and Cabrera.

The thirty well-manicured fields of grass and the infamous wall at Fenway are not, however, the only things that are green about Major League Baseball these days. In a new effort to implement the “Going Green” buzz, MLB has teamed up with Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) to create the Team Greening Program.

The NRDC Team Greening Advisor for Major League Baseball will work with each individual club on a host of topics, including how to address consumption issues related to air quality, chemicals, waste, water, recycling, travel and office products.

AOL Living blog Green Daily, reported that “Of course, while the league is touting the “social responsibility” involved with going green, it’s worth noting that it’s also not bad for their bottom line,” says Frances Beinecke, NRDC President. “Their work will save energy, reduce waste, and make the organization, the teams, and the stadiums all run more efficiently.”

So what do all of these “earth loving” promises mean for the environment and more importantly, your baseball experience?

For starters, food and beverage company Aramark may be serving your brews in recycled or biodegradable corn starch cups as opposed to plastic. Teams may be flying on commercial airliners (sorry Jeter, no more ‘copter rides to practice) and the new Yankee and Mets stadiums will be LEED certified to catch up with west coast stadiums in Oakland, Seattle and San Francisco.

According to an announcement released by the Mets, The new Citi Field that will open in 2009 is being built from approximately 95% recycled steel to reduce energy consumption, and at least 2 million pounds of recycled coal combustion products that will save more than 800 tons of carbon dioxide. The team’s administration building will feature a 15,000-square-foot “green roof,” which will reduce energy needs by retaining cool air in the summer and heat in the winter.

The new stadium will also contain low-flow plumbing features such as hands-free faucets and waterless urinals that will save more than 4 million gallons of water per year. Water conservation will also be achieved with the installation of an on-site well to be used for irrigation, as well as a 3,700-square-foot drainage bed to control the flow of storm-water runoff.

What can we do to help? Angry fans, stop throwing your trash on the field, recycle your garbage (that’s what the blue bin is for), and take the train instead of driving to the game.

Whether it’s about social responsibility, jumping on the Green PR bandwagon or really trying to provide the Earth with extra innings, Major League Baseball has finally stepped up to the plate.