PORTLAND, Ore. – Providence Park, home of the Portland Timbers and Portland Thorns FC, has been awarded LEED Gold certification by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). Additionally, in continuing to prioritize the environment and sustainability, the club has joined the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Sports for Climate Action Framework.
LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is the most widely used green building rating system in the world. Available for virtually all building, community and home project types, LEED provides a framework to create healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings. LEED certification is a globally recognized symbol of sustainability achievement.
Projects pursuing LEED certification earn points across several categories, including location and transportation, sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environmental quality and innovation. Based on the number of points achieved, a project then earns one of four LEED rating levels: certified, silver, gold or platinum. Originally constructed in 1926, Providence Park was awarded LEED Silver certification in 2011 ahead of the club’s first season in MLS after the first renovation. In 2019, Providence Park increased its status to Gold after making additional improvements and changes in regards to sustainability and the environment, following the $85 million transformation project with several notable achievements:
- 100 percent renewable energy purchased through PGE’s Clean Wind program. In 2018, this avoided more than 4.8 million pounds of CO2 being admitted into the environment.
- Providence Park’s diversion rate, which represents the amount of waste that is diverted from landfill for recycling, more than doubled since 2011.
- Installed new LED sports lighting system and replaced incandescent lightbulbs with LEDs in suites, offices and on the concourse level
- Increased recycling of electronic waste, recycling more than 3,500 pounds over the last year
- In the construction process, Turner Construction Company achieved a diversion rate of more than 87 percent of construction material
- Installed low-flow toilets and sink fixtures to reduce the stadium’s water usage
- Sixty percent of supporters use public transportation to go to and from the stadium for matches
“We are proud to receive LEED Gold certification for Providence Park. It is a big honor for our club,” said Kristel Wissel, Timbers and Thorns FC vice president of community impact. “Across the organization, we have made sustainability practices a priority and through the recent renovations of Providence Park, we are committed to improving our environmental impact. Additionally, by signing on to the UN Sports for Climate Action Framework, we are doubling down on our commitment to participate in and promote climate action across our club, the Portland community and beyond.”
The UN Sports for Climate Action Framework is a program that aims to support and guide sports organizations in achieving global climate change goals in accordance with the Paris Agreement. This program was formed with the objective of achieving a clear trajectory for the global sports community to combat climate change and using sport as a unifying tool to drive climate awareness and action among global citizens. By signing this initiative, the club is committing to the program’s five principles: undertake systematic efforts to promote greater environmental responsibility, reduce overall climate impact, educate for climate action, promote sustainable and responsible consumption and advocate for climate action through communication.
