Sports events tend to leave massive environmental footprints with huge amounts of energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Not to mention, they produce trash amounts in the tons. These are the main reasons why the Sports and Environment Program, created by UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1994, which makes a global effort to promote environmental awareness through athletics, and to encourage the design of sustainable sports facilities and equipment.
New England Patriots owner, Robert Kraft, who is also the CEO and Chairman of The Kraft Group, joined the sustainability movement when the company planned and constructed Gillette Stadium. Patriot Place, a 1.3 million square foot “lifestyle” complex is also a part of that movement, and states on its website, “Patriot Place is committed to continuing the environmentally responsible and sustainable design practices that began with Gillette Stadium.”
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The Kraft Group partnered with NRG Energy to design the canopy project which tripled the solar power at the complex. The conception of the walkway canopy had dual purposes. One with the intention of shielding hundreds of fans from the elements (snow, wind and rain) which are common to Foxboro, and the other, to house thousands of solar panels that would significantly increase the system’s kilowatt hours and reduce the carbon emissions by over 800 metric tons. As Patriot Place continues to expand, the Kraft Group offers solar power to businesses that own the buildings located at Patriot Place. It intends to add additional solar panels to vendors in the South Marketplace.
The solar panels collect photons from the sun which are converted into direct current (DC). An inverter then converts DC to alternating current (AC). The AC goes through a main switchboard providing enough electricity to power a whole building. Excess electricity is exported to the grid, but can be imported back to the building when there isn’t enough solar energy. The solar panels that were added to the Patriots Hall of Fame and walkway canopy now provide up to 60% of Patriot Place’s power – that’s up 30% from when it opened in 2008.
Users of solar power energy save thousands of dollars by using less grid electricity and through government incentives and credits. Other benefits contribute to a better environment by reducing collective dependence on fossil fuels and combating greenhouse emissions by deriving clean pure energy from the sun.
Solar power is the third most important renewable energy source after hydro and wind power. In 2014, Patriot Place conserved 2,822,978kW of electricity. That is enough electricity to power 235 houses for 12 months.