Green and Sustainability -- an Olympic Win
The current Olympic Winter Games in Vancouver are officially green by LEED standards. From the Olympic Village that houses the athletes to the various venues, there are MANY green features that were brought into this most wonderful event for the world to see.
For starters, the medals awarded to the athletes are made from recycled electronics (materials and resources credit here)
The athletes themselves made a call to address the issues of global warming, as they can see first hand the, effects of not taking action. The Winter Games depend on snow and ice; global warming drastically effects this. David Suzuki, of the foundation that bears his name, has placed supreme emphasis on this fact, and says that choices that we make today will effect the future of where and how future Winter Games will be held.
A scorecard was put together that details this effort, and can be found on the David Suzuki Foundation web Site http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Climate%20Change/Projects/Olympics/default%20asp
Ten areas were addressed, and overall, the Vancouver Games performed with a Bronze level. The ten areas covered are:
Free public transit is part of the effort, as well.
Even the village site was a former brown field site; meaning that it was reclaimed from a previous use, which will be turned into a mixed use sustainable community that will consist of stores, housing, daycare, and a community center after the Games.
The Richmond Oval, site of the speed skating events is built with a massive wood wave roof that comes from local lumber salvaged after a pine-bee
There are, however, critics that question just how green the Games really are, when on must factor in the vast emissions from trucks just to bring in the needed snow that nature did not provide. (Is this an early effect of global warming here?)
Despite any questions raised, in my opinion, the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games earn at least a Gold Medal for the sustainable design efforts and success that is clearly seen.
For starters, the medals awarded to the athletes are made from recycled electronics (materials and resources credit here)
The athletes themselves made a call to address the issues of global warming, as they can see first hand the, effects of not taking action. The Winter Games depend on snow and ice; global warming drastically effects this. David Suzuki, of the foundation that bears his name, has placed supreme emphasis on this fact, and says that choices that we make today will effect the future of where and how future Winter Games will be held.
A scorecard was put together that details this effort, and can be found on the David Suzuki Foundation web Site http://www.davidsuzuki.org/Climate%20Change/Projects/Olympics/default%20asp
Ten areas were addressed, and overall, the Vancouver Games performed with a Bronze level. The ten areas covered are:
- Goals: A good effort to achieve renewable energy, as well as energy efficiency was achieved, but other areas were rated vague
- In terms of transparency, the rating was quite good
- Measuring Climatic Impact: A significant improvement was seen by the Vancouver Games in this area, when compared to previous Game Sites.
- Venues: Once again, the Vancouver Games will leave the site with innovative and energy efficient buildings that will serve for many years after the Games.
- Energy Use: The Vancouver Games use mostly clean energy sources, such as electricity from local natural hydroelectric systems, seawater and ground source heat.
- Transportation: Even though reference have been made to the availability of free public transit, green house gas emissions were not dealt with properly.
- Overall Green House Gas Emission Reduction: The reduction was about 15%
- Offsetting Remaining Emissions: Half of the emission were reduced from game-related activities, a rather substantial amount.
- Mobilizing Sponsors and Others: The Vancouver Games excelled here.
- Public Engagement: This was rated the lowest of the ten areas, in terms of success on the part of the Vancouver Games.
Free public transit is part of the effort, as well.
Even the village site was a former brown field site; meaning that it was reclaimed from a previous use, which will be turned into a mixed use sustainable community that will consist of stores, housing, daycare, and a community center after the Games.
The Richmond Oval, site of the speed skating events is built with a massive wood wave roof that comes from local lumber salvaged after a pine-bee
There are, however, critics that question just how green the Games really are, when on must factor in the vast emissions from trucks just to bring in the needed snow that nature did not provide. (Is this an early effect of global warming here?)
Despite any questions raised, in my opinion, the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games earn at least a Gold Medal for the sustainable design efforts and success that is clearly seen.
Posted by Alan L. Englander at 2/23/2010 10:51 PM 
Categories: Local Materials, Green Roofs, Irrigation, Brownfield Redevelopment, Ground and Seawater Source heat, Low VOC, Public Transit, Recycled Electronics, Neighborhood Development
Categories: Local Materials, Green Roofs, Irrigation, Brownfield Redevelopment, Ground and Seawater Source heat, Low VOC, Public Transit, Recycled Electronics, Neighborhood Development
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