Gives Locally - Does your organization donate and/or volunteer for environmental and/or humanitarian organizations within your local community and beyond?
The Vikings participated in a zero-waste playground build at Crestview Elementary School in Brooklyn Park, MN. All materials from the old playground were reused or recycled and all unused material during the build was also recycled.
We have a green initiative called "Planet Purple". Visit www.vikings.com/outreach/planet-purple.html to read more.
Minnesota Vikings players and staff joined students from Jenny Lind School to plant 133
trees around the school and in Bohannan Park.
Last season, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Minneapolis Public Schools and Toro also helped plant trees and educate students along with the Vikings.
Vikings country "Green Your Routine" featured simple yet effective ways to save energy and conserve natural resources in everyday life. The Vikings sent emails featuring eco-friendly tips, a public service announcement from Viktor and other ways to "Green Your Routine"
The Vikings players and staff participated in "Carpool Friday"helping to conserve fuel and cutting back on pollution and they encouraged everyone in Vikings country to participate.
Vikings Quarterback Sage Rosenfels was on hand at the Eden Prairie Best Buy helping promote the recycling of used electronics at select Best Buy locations. People were encouraged to drop off their broken or unwanted electronics items (limit of 2 items per person), and the first 100 customers to bring in their items received an autograph and Vikings-branded re-usable shopping bag.
In the 2009-2010 season, the Vikings offset 100% of the electricity used to power the Metrodome for all home games, through the purchase of renewable energy as part of Xcel Energy Windsource program.
During Planet Purple Week, volunteers were at the tailgate lots before the game to recycle plastic bottles.
Recycles - Does your organization recycle paper, plastic, glass, aluminum, batteries, electronics and fluorescent lights throughout the company, including public areas?
Yes, we recycle using Allied Waste. A recycling program has been instituted at Winter Park that has reduced waste output by 67 percent.
Also during our Planet Purple week, we were part of the Best Buy electronics recycling drive (ewaste recycling). The first 100 customers to bring in their items received an autograph and Vikings-branded re-usable shopping bag.
Compost or Food-to-Farms - Does your organization compost its food and food related paper waste and/or does it participate in a food-to-farm program sending its food waste to farms?
Lighting - Does your organization use high-efficiency lighting approved by Energy Star such as, T8s, T5s, LEDs, CFLs (>75%)?
The Vikings use T5, T8, and LED lighting. The T5 fluorescent lights have replaced the metal-halide lights used at the facility since 1991, resulting in a 30 percent decrease in energy costs. The new lights also have increased brightness and longevity.
Temperature - Does your organization manage temperature with an efficient programmable thermostat, adjust it to 68 degrees in the winter and 80 degrees in the summer, and reduce it to the greatest energy efficient setting possible during non-labor hours?
In our offices we manage these temperatures - a Planet Purple initiative.
Also, plastic trays with plants have been placed in front of the air conditioning intake on top of the Winter Park practice facility as an energy-saving measure. The plants create a cooler environment on the roof so that the air conditioning intake temperature in the summer months is around 80 degrees instead of the normal 120 degrees it is without the plants. The result is less energy used during the months when the facility needs to be cooled, which in turn decreases costs and protects the environment.
One goal behind the Vikings new stadium proposal is to create an environmentally-responsible venue by leveraging existing infrastructure and land, implementing green initiatives and becoming the first LEED-certified NFL stadium. By selecting the current Metrodome site, existing materials can be reused, as can current transportation systems and utility infrastructure. Two opportunities for the new stadium include:
Re-using the crushed concrete from the Metrodome alone would save nearly 10,000 truckloads of new concrete.
The unique angle of the proposed retractable roof will be designed to accommodate future Photovoltaic technology (solar panels).
Hibernate Computers - Does your organization hibernate the computer monitors after 5 minutes without use and shut the computers down completely during non-work hours (with the exception of POS and/or unique computer systems that cannot or should not hibernate or shut down)?
Energy Reduction - Does your organization incorporate specific practices and equipment to reduce energy usage and waste, e.g. grocery store installs doors on refrigerated areas, skylights installed for passive solar, paint rooftop white to reduce the air-conditioning usage, etc?
The Vikings offset 100% of the electricity used to power the Metrodome for all home games, through the purchase of renewable energy as part of Xcel Energy's Windsource program.
Also, plastic trays with plants have been placed in front of the air conditioning intake on top of the Winter Park practice facility as an energy-saving measure. The plants create a cooler environment on the roof so that the air conditioning intake temperature in the summer months is around 80 degrees instead of the normal 120 degrees it is without the plants. The result is less energy used during the months when the facility needs to be cooled, which in turn decreases costs and protects the environment.
One goal behind the Vikings new stadium proposal is to create an environmentally-responsible venue by leveraging existing infrastructure and land, implementing green initiatives and becoming the first LEED-certified NFL stadium. By selecting the current Metrodome site, existing materials can be reused, as can current transportation systems and utility infrastructure. Two opportunities for the new stadium include:
Re-using the crushed concrete from the Metrodome alone would save nearly 10,000 truckloads of new concrete.
The unique angle of the proposed retractable roof will be designed to accommodate future Photovoltaic technology (solar panels).
Conserves Water - Does your organization maintain plumbing to prevent leaks, drips and overall water waste? When replacements are necessary, do you install water conserving low-flow/high-pressure fixtures?
There is a focus on using recycled materials for new construction projects, reduced-flow plumbing fixtures and energy-efficient lighting. The players clubhouse area and athletic training area were renovated with reduced-flow plumbing fixtures in 2008.
Unwanted Mail - Has your organization removed their name from unwanted: mail, mailing lists, phone book distribution and unwanted catalogs?
We have now removed our name from unwanted mailing lists and will continue to try to keep on top of this.
Paper - Does your organization use post-consumer recycled paper throughout all office printers, fax machines & copiers?
We use paper with 30+% post consumer recycled content. Also, the 2010 Minnesota Vikings Media Guide is 52 less pages than last years guide and the Vikings printed 3,000 fewer media guides this year. The net result is 156,000 fewer pages and 78,000 fewer sheets of paper used.
Transportation - Does your organization promote the use of and/or offer incentives for employees and visitors to use low or no CO2 transportation?
Bottled Water - Does your organization offer and promote drinking water for employees and guests that is not packaged in plastic? If you do use plastic bottled water, do you promote recycling of all plastic bottles?
We are looking at ways to provide water during training that is more environmentally preferred. During our special events such as Planet Purple Week, our volunteers were at the tailgate lots before the game to recycle plastic bottles.
Buys Locally - Does your organization buy locally whenever possible (within a 100 mile radius)?
Choose Green - Do you offer and/or buy organic, natural, sustainable, and/or renewable products and continue to look for ways to do so (> 20%)?
Corporate Express, the Vikings cleaning products provider, offers friendly commercial cleaning products that provide superior performance. Many of the products are certified by the EPA and Green Seal.
Green Energy - Does your organization incorporate the use of ultimate efficiency systems and/or alternative, renewable &/or sustainable energy resources e.g. solar, wind energy, geothermal temperature management, etc?
The Vikings offset 100% of the electricity used to power the Metrodome for all home games, through the purchase of renewable energy as part of Xcel Energy's Windsource program.
Also, plastic trays with plants have been placed in front of the air conditioning intake on top of the Winter Park practice facility as an energy-saving measure. The plants create a cooler environment on the roof so that the air conditioning intake temperature in the summer months is around 80 degrees instead of the normal 120 degrees it is without the plants. The result is less energy used during the months when the facility needs to be cooled, which in turn decreases costs and protects the environment.
One goal behind the Vikings new stadium proposal is to create an environmentally-responsible venue by leveraging existing infrastructure and land, implementing green initiatives and becoming the first LEED-certified NFL stadium. By selecting the current Metrodome site, existing materials can be reused, as can current transportation systems and utility infrastructure. Two opportunities for the new stadium include:
Re-using the crushed concrete from the Metrodome alone would save nearly 10,000 truckloads of new concrete.
The unique angle of the proposed retractable roof will be designed to accommodate future Photovoltaic technology (solar panels).
Inspires Others - Does your organization encourage the employees, suppliers and others to also do more environmentally and publicly communicate their efforts by creating an Eco-Profile?
Energy Audit- Has your organization had an energy audit within the past 24 months?
Xcel Energy did our Audit in Sept of last year
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