• Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
  • CONTRACTORS
  • ENGINEERS
  • RADIANT & HYDRONICS
  • INSIGHTS
  • MEDIA
  • RESOURCES
  • EMAGAZINE
  • SIGN UP!
cart
facebook instagram twitter linkedin youtube
  • CONTRACTORS
  • BATH & KITCHEN PRO
  • BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
  • HIGH EFFICIENCY HOMES
  • TECHNOLOGY
  • WATER TREATMENT
  • PMC COLUMNS
  • PMC COLUMNS
  • Dave Yates: Contractor’s Corner
  • John Siegenthaler: Hydronics Workshop
  • Kenny Chapman: The Blue Collar Coach
  • Matt Michel: Service Plumbing Pros
  • Scott Secor: Heating Perceptions
  • ENGINEERS
  • CONTINUING EDUCATION
  • DECARBONIZATION | ELECTRIFICATION
  • FIRE PROTECTION
  • GEOTHERMAL | SOLAR THERMAL
  • PIPING | PLUMBING | PVF
  • PME COLUMNS
  • PME COLUMNS
  • Christoph Lohr: Strategic Plumbing Insights
  • David Dexter: Plumbing Talking Points
  • James Dipping: Engineer Viewpoints
  • John Seigenthaler: Renewable Heating Design
  • Lowell Manalo: Plumbing Essentials
  • Misty Guard: Guard on Compliance
  • RADIANT & HYDRONICS
  • RADIANT COMFORT REPORT
  • THE GLITCH & THE FIX
  • INSIGHTS
  • CODES
  • GREEN PLUMBING & MECHANICAL
  • PROJECT PROFILES
  • COLUMNS
  • SPONSOR INSIGHTS
  • COLUMNS
  • Codes Corner
  • Natalie Forster: Editorial Opinion
  • Guest Editorial
  • MEDIA
  • PODCASTS
  • VIDEOS
  • WEBINARS
  • RESOURCES
  • INDUSTRY CALENDAR
  • DIRECTORIES
  • EBOOKS
  • PM BOOKSTORE
  • CE CENTER
  • MARKET RESEARCH
  • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EMAGAZINE
  • EMAGAZINE
  • ARCHIVE ISSUES
  • CONTACT
  • ADVERTISE
  • PME EMAGAZINE ARCHIVES
search
cart
facebook instagram twitter linkedin youtube
  • Sign In
  • Create Account
  • Sign Out
  • My Account
  • NEWS
  • PRODUCTS
  • CONTRACTORS
    • BATH & KITCHEN PRO
    • BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
    • HIGH EFFICIENCY HOMES
    • TECHNOLOGY
    • WATER TREATMENT
    • PMC COLUMNS
      • Dave Yates: Contractor’s Corner
      • John Siegenthaler: Hydronics Workshop
      • Kenny Chapman: The Blue Collar Coach
      • Matt Michel: Service Plumbing Pros
      • Scott Secor: Heating Perceptions
  • ENGINEERS
    • CONTINUING EDUCATION
    • DECARBONIZATION | ELECTRIFICATION
    • FIRE PROTECTION
    • GEOTHERMAL | SOLAR THERMAL
    • PIPING | PLUMBING | PVF
    • PME COLUMNS
      • Christoph Lohr: Strategic Plumbing Insights
      • David Dexter: Plumbing Talking Points
      • James Dipping: Engineer Viewpoints
      • John Seigenthaler: Renewable Heating Design
      • Lowell Manalo: Plumbing Essentials
      • Misty Guard: Guard on Compliance
  • RADIANT & HYDRONICS
    • RADIANT COMFORT REPORT
    • THE GLITCH & THE FIX
  • INSIGHTS
    • CODES
    • GREEN PLUMBING & MECHANICAL
    • PROJECT PROFILES
    • COLUMNS
      • Codes Corner
      • Natalie Forster: Editorial Opinion
      • Guest Editorial
    • SPONSOR INSIGHTS
  • MEDIA
    • PODCASTS
    • VIDEOS
    • WEBINARS
  • RESOURCES
    • INDUSTRY CALENDAR
    • DIRECTORIES
    • EBOOKS
    • PM BOOKSTORE
    • CE CENTER
    • MARKET RESEARCH
    • CLASSIFIEDS
  • EMAGAZINE
    • EMAGAZINE
    • ARCHIVE ISSUES
    • CONTACT
    • ADVERTISE
    • PME EMAGAZINE ARCHIVES
  • SIGN UP!
Green Plumbing and Mechanical

Pro Sports And Biodiesel Make A Good Team

September 30, 2009
Professional teams, players and stadiums’ trends toward biodiesel will reduce impact on the environment.

Cincinnati Reds outfielder Chris Dickerson sees a new movement afoot in professional sports. His team and others are leading the way towards more sustainable practices in parks and stadiums. A growing number of pro sports teams recognize that biodiesel is a team player in their sustainability efforts, reports the www.biodiesel.orgNational Biodiesel Board.

From using the fuel in their stadiums, to collecting concession grease for biodiesel producers, to educational campaigns about alternative energy, the green trend is growing.

“Where Great American Ball Park lead, I believe others will follow,” Dickerson told NBB. He is one of the founders of We Play Green. The group works to unite athletes in encouraging environmental awareness and promoting alternative energy.

“With baseball winding down and football heating up, this is a great time to commend those teams and players who are leading the charge for biodiesel in sustainable venues,” says Joe Jobe, NBB CEO.

Cincinnati Reds Player Plays Green

The Reds’ Great American Ball Park is among the greenest ballparks in the country. Its efforts range from composting the grass clippings to using biodiesel blends for facility vehicles and standby emergency generators. Also, the park collects waste cooking oil from kitchens and concession stands for biodiesel producers to use in making the fuel. In the last season, the Reds have sent 8,234 gallons of used cooking and motor oils to be refined for biodiesel.

“In the global effort to be more environmentally friendly, the Cincinnati Reds believe the use of biodiesel as an alternate fuel source is an important part of our overall greening strategy,” Declan Mullin, vp ballpark operations, told NBB.

Kansas City Chiefs Take Biodiesel To The End Zone

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel told NBB that using biodiesel makes sense on a number of different levels, especially at sports venues.

“Turning potential waste into fuel is just a smart thing to do,” he said. “If we can begin conditioning players and fans at a young age to recycle, we’ve taken a big step. Using alternative fuels such as biodiesel is an even bigger leap. Through the efforts of weplaygreen.org and athletes across the country, we are making our voices heard and are encouraging all sports venues to Go Green!”

Indianapolis Colts Sack Foreign Oil

Indiana soybean and corn farmers teamed up with the Indianapolis Colts to educate consumers about the benefits of biofuels. With Colts’ tight end Dallas Clark serving as the official spokesperson, Hoosier Horsepower connects with and educates students of all ages.

“Growing up in Iowa, I understand the importance of biofuels to our farmers and rural communities,” said Clark. “I’m also excited that the Colts will donate $100 in the name of Indiana farmers to a scholarship program for every catch I make this season.”

Biodiesel Takes To The Turf

Other professional sports teams and organizations involved with biodiesel:

  • Philadelphia Eagles – In 2008, the Philadelphia Eagles bought more than 300 gallons of biodiesel blends (B10 and B20) to power diesel equipment. That includes hot pressure washers, tractors, utility carts and mowers. The Eagles continue to replace high polluting fuels in 2009.

    “During the 2008-09 season we sent 6,925 gallons of used kitchen oil and more than 1,150 gallons of grease trap to local re-processors,” said Don Smolenski, Philadelphia Eagles CFO. “The process begins in our kitchens and ends with our on-site vehicles and other machinery. By recycling our own oil and grease, we have effectively closed the cycle.”

  • Houston Astros – The Astros use B20 biodiesel in diesel grounds crew equipment. This includes a tractor and a professional turf mower used to groom the Astros’ playing surface daily. They use approximately 75 gallons of B100 over the course of a year and this is the second year they have used biodiesel.

  • Seattle Mariners – The Mariners use B20 biodiesel to power motorized grounds-keeping equipment.

  • Boston Red Sox – The Sox use biodiesel fuel in all mowers.

  • Washington Nationals – The Nats use a mixture of B5 or B10 biodiesel to power a tractor and a couple of smaller machines.

  • Philadelphia Phillies - The Phillies work with a local company that collects frying oil from the concessions at Citizens Bank Park, which is then processed into biodiesel fuel.

    “The Phillies are pleased to work with a local company in an effort to reduce air pollution as we strive to create a cleaner environment,” said marketing initiatives coordinator Mary Ann Gettis.

  • San Diego Padres – In 2009, the Padres have recycled approximately 8.5 tons of cooking oil that can be converted into biodiesel fuel. Through the assistance of their food and beverage provider, Sportservice, they collect cooking oil at the conclusion of every event and removed off-site twice a month. Darling International Inc. processes the used cooking oil for application in safe, useful products including biodiesel, animal feed and lubricants.

  • ESPN’s 2009 ESPY Awards ceremony held in July was, for the first time, carbon neutral. The event reduced its environmental footprint through a number of innovative waste reduction and recovery strategies as well as recycling. They collected waste grease from venue caterers and concessionaires for biodiesel.

    Additional information about biodiesel is available online at www.biodiesel.org.

    Source: National Biodiesel Board


  • Links

    • Want More Green News?

    Share This Story

    Looking for a reprint of this article?
    From high-res PDFs to custom plaques, order your copy today!

    Recommended Content

    JOIN TODAY
    to unlock your recommendations.

    Already have an account? Sign In

    • Worker using the Milwaukee Tool SWITCH PACK drain cleaner

      Pipeline profits: Drain cleaning, pipe inspection create opportunities

      Drain cleaning and inspection services offer lucrative...
      Green Plumbing and Mechanical
      By: Nicole Krawcke
    • Uponor employee, Arturo Moreno

      The reinvestment in American manufacturing and training

      Plumbing & Mechanical Chief Editor Nicole Krawcke and...
      Plumbing News
      By: Nicole Krawcke and Natalie Forster
    • March 2024 Women in Plumbing hero image of woman engineer overlayed by circle of hexagon shapes with numbers from 1 to 10

      Celebrating 10 Influential Women in the Plumbing Industry

      Celebrating Women's History Month and Women in...
      Plumbing News
      By: Nicole Krawcke
    Subscribe For Free!
    • eNewsletters
    • Online Registration
    • Subscription Customer Service
    • eMagazine
    • Manage My Preferences

    More Videos

    Sponsored Content

    Sponsored Content is a special paid section where industry companies provide high quality, objective, non-commercial content around topics of interest to the Plumbing & Mechanical audience. All Sponsored Content is supplied by the advertising company and any opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and not necessarily reflect the views of Plumbing & Mechanical or its parent company, BNP Media. Interested in participating in our Sponsored Content section? Contact your local rep!

    close
    • J.J. Keller CMV vehicles on road
      Sponsored byJ. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.

      The dash cam game-changer for small business safety

    Popular Stories

    Underfloor heating installation with drain sewer hole in bathroom close up on water floor heating.

    Using hydronics to leverage time-of-use electrical rates

    Rovanco fire.jpg

    Fire breaks out at Rovanco Piping Systems' Joliet manufacturing facility

    Watts Nexa mobile image

    Behind the Wall: Where smart plumbing gets smarter

    PMCE Home-X April 29 Free Webinar: From Legacy to Leadership: Preparing Your Home Services Business for the Next Generation

    Events

    November 13, 2024

    Future Proofing MEP: Navigating the 2026 High Efficiency Water Heating Standards

    Join our deep dive into DOE’s new standards so you can future-proof your MEP practice.

    EARN: 0.1 ASPE CEU; 1 AIA LU/HSW; 0.1 IACET CEU*; 1 PDH

    May 15, 2025

    From Legacy to Leadership: Preparing Your Home Services Business for the Next Generation

    Whether you're passing the torch to a family member or grooming current employees for leadership, preparing the next generation of leaders is key.

    View All Submit An Event

    Poll

    Will business be up or down in 2025?

    Do you anticipate business in 2025 to be up or down in comparison to 2024?
    View Results Poll Archive

    Products

    The Water Came To A Stop

    The Water Came To A Stop

    See More Products

    Download the FREE Water Conservation, Quality & Safety eBook: Plumbing Trends Increasing Safe Water Availability

    Related Articles

    • New Biodiesel Education Website Launched

      See More
    • Why use biodiesel fuels for home heating?

      See More
    • PipeBurst Pro leak-detection and protection equipment

      PipeBurst Pro leak-detection and protection equipment

      See More
    ×

    Keep your content unclogged with our newsletters!

    Stay in the know on the latest plumbing & piping industry trends.

    JOIN TODAY!
    • RESOURCES
      • Advertise
      • Contact Us
      • Directories
      • Store
      • Want More
      • Supply House Times
    • SIGN UP TODAY
      • Create Account
      • eMagazine
      • eNewsletter
      • Customer Service
      • Manage Preferences
    • SERVICES
      • Marketing Services
      • Reprints
      • Market Research
      • List Rental
      • Survey/Respondent Access
    • STAY CONNECTED
      • LinkedIn
      • Facebook
      • Instagram
      • YouTube
      • X (Twitter)
    • PRIVACY
      • PRIVACY POLICY
      • TERMS & CONDITIONS
      • DO NOT SELL MY PERSONAL INFORMATION
      • PRIVACY REQUEST
      • ACCESSIBILITY

    Copyright ©2025. All Rights Reserved BNP Media.

    Design, CMS, Hosting & Web Development :: ePublishing

    search
    cart
    facebook instagram twitter linkedin youtube
    • Sign In
    • Create Account
    • Sign Out
    • My Account
    • NEWS
    • PRODUCTS
    • CONTRACTORS
      • BATH & KITCHEN PRO
      • BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
      • HIGH EFFICIENCY HOMES
      • TECHNOLOGY
      • WATER TREATMENT
      • PMC COLUMNS
        • Dave Yates: Contractor’s Corner
        • John Siegenthaler: Hydronics Workshop
        • Kenny Chapman: The Blue Collar Coach
        • Matt Michel: Service Plumbing Pros
        • Scott Secor: Heating Perceptions
    • ENGINEERS
      • CONTINUING EDUCATION
      • DECARBONIZATION | ELECTRIFICATION
      • FIRE PROTECTION
      • GEOTHERMAL | SOLAR THERMAL
      • PIPING | PLUMBING | PVF
      • PME COLUMNS
        • Christoph Lohr: Strategic Plumbing Insights
        • David Dexter: Plumbing Talking Points
        • James Dipping: Engineer Viewpoints
        • John Seigenthaler: Renewable Heating Design
        • Lowell Manalo: Plumbing Essentials
        • Misty Guard: Guard on Compliance
    • RADIANT & HYDRONICS
      • RADIANT COMFORT REPORT
      • THE GLITCH & THE FIX
    • INSIGHTS
      • CODES
      • GREEN PLUMBING & MECHANICAL
      • PROJECT PROFILES
      • COLUMNS
        • Codes Corner
        • Natalie Forster: Editorial Opinion
        • Guest Editorial
      • SPONSOR INSIGHTS
    • MEDIA
      • PODCASTS
      • VIDEOS
      • WEBINARS
    • RESOURCES
      • INDUSTRY CALENDAR
      • DIRECTORIES
      • EBOOKS
      • PM BOOKSTORE
      • CE CENTER
      • MARKET RESEARCH
      • CLASSIFIEDS
    • EMAGAZINE
      • EMAGAZINE
      • ARCHIVE ISSUES
      • CONTACT
      • ADVERTISE
      • PME EMAGAZINE ARCHIVES
    • SIGN UP!