Green Sports Alliance launches new guide for building sustainable venues

The Green Sports Alliance has released its latest 'Play to Zero Playbook, Building for the Next Generation', showcasing innovative approaches to constructing and renovating sports and entertainment venues with sustainability in mind.

Aimed at influencing the design and construction of new sports and entertainment venues as well as renovation projects, the playbook intends to provide a blueprint for the whole sector to take on board, which could ultimately “transform our relationship with the planet.”

With buildings and construction accounting for 37% of global energy and process-related carbon emissions and more than 34% of global energy demand, the playbook states that every team, venue and league must make sustainability a strategic business priority.

The Playbook notes “the risk of not doing so is simply too great to ignore. By investing in sustainability, sports can play a leading role in our battle against climate change.

"We can protect the future of our industry and communities by seizing opportunities to be more efficient and meaningfully engage our fans, communities and corporate partners."

The playbook resolves around five key points: Green Venues are Good Investments, Commit Early to Excellence, Ensure Maximum Benefit to Communities, Build for Our Future and Measure, and Adapt and Monitor.

The guide was collaboratively designed by a group who focuses on the benefits of sustainable building design which addresses how design choices and climate considerations can benefit the environment and communities.

It consists of resources and case studies for sports and entertainment industry leaders to adopt in order to create a more sustainable, resilient and responsible ecosystem for future generations of fans, players and operators.

Carlie Bullock-Jones, Green Sports Alliance board member, and founder and principal of EcoWorks Studio, explained “now more than ever, the need to prioritise environmental and human health within our buildings, organisations and communities is abundantly clear.

"We are at a pivotal moment for the sports industry to be at the forefront of this leadership and accelerating positive change - moving from awareness into action.”

Click here to view the Playbook on the Green Sports Alliance website.