Why did the Phillies wear green caps during last night's home game against the San Diego Padres? The Phillies’ team colors are red and blue; green has nothing to do with them. The green was a symbol for environmentalism as the Phightin’s became the first Major League Baseball team to join the Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership program.
To cite the Philadelphia Business Journal:
To offset the carbon footprint created by the team's utility power usage at Citizens Bank Park, the Phillies said Wednesday they have bought 20 million kilowatt-hours of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates.
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the deal represents the largest single purchase of 100 percent renewable energy in professional sports and is equivalent to the planting of 100,000 trees.
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Among the other Phillies' green initiatives, the team is working with Philadelphia-based Aramark Corp., the food and beverage provider at Citizens Bank Park, on recycling of frying oil to be used as bio-diesel fuel; recycling glass, plastic and cardboard generated from game day preparation and sales; using carry-out trays that are 100 percent post-consumer fiber; providing biodegradable serviceware and cups; using plastics that are easier to recycle and compostable products; reducing amount of condiment packaging waste by providing dispensers instead of individual packets; and using locally grown produce and organic foods.
Within Citizens Bank Park, the team is reusing rain run-off water for landscaping and field irrigation, converting to more energy-efficient LED lighting and using environmental-friendly cleaning products.
Traditionally, the Phillies organization tended to be stubborn, unwilling to blaze trails in any way, and, in fact, were among the least accepting of African American ballplayers after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947.
As a resident of southeast Pennsylvania and a Phillies fan, it’s great to see the team finally taking the invitation to lead the pack rather than follow. Now maybe the Phillies can get rid of the ugly Lukoil banners around the stadium.
Image credit to the Associated Press and Yahoo! Images.