River Cats Green Initiatives  

As a prominent sports organization in the state capital of California, we have an opportunity and an obligation to utilize our platform to educate our fans about steps they can take, however large or small, to positively impact their community and environment.  Our organization has the benefit of an extraordinarily positive reputation in our community, providing us with the ability to educate and inform in a fun and inviting environment while partnering with other organizations that share our values and seek a platform to communicate their messages.  We recognize  there is still more we can do in this realm, but hope we can be leaders by  setting an example for others that every little bit does have an impact and that you don’t need a corporate overhaul to be responsible members of your local, regional and world communities.

It is vital to get company-wide buy-in, from the top-down AND from the bottom-up (it’s just as important that person ordering supplies has an eye on “green” issues as it is that the owner of the company does).  A holistic approach is necessary, as we have found that if we empower our employees to be creative with ways to conserve, they will often find opportunities that our organization’s leadership did not see.  Specifically, we were one of the first teams in all of Minor League Baseball to institute a comprehensive recycling program and continue to work on the collection and collation of recyclables and keeping that process top-of-mind amongst not just employees, but customers as well.  We have also worked with area experts to perform energy, waste, and water audits of our operation to ensure we are being as efficient as possible and to identify areas where we can minimize our impact on local resources and positively affect our bottom line.  

WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Fans, here are some easy ways you can save money and help the environment : 

• Join PG&E’s ClimateSmart program (Click Here) to offset your energy and gas use
• Click Here to get a $175 toilet rebate or get a Water Wise audit on your home or business water usage through the Regional Water Authority
• Click Here to reduce the pollution in your landscaping with the Sacramento Stormwater Quality Partnership
• Click Here to get information on Luxury Limousines of Sacramento and how their partnership with Green Ride Global makes them Sacramento's premier Eco-friendly limousine service

                       
                          
                          




GREEN ACTION TAKEN: 
Front office
• Eliminated Styrofoam Cups in the office and purchase Corn Plastic Mugs for all full-time staff
• Printer set to double sided print automatically
• Monthly "green tips" emailed to staff
• Paperless payroll
• Employee manuals are electronically filed
• Electronic scheduling (eliminates paper use)
• Electronic unemployment papers
• Centralize purchasing within company to eliminate unnecessary purchases

Stadium operations
• Conduct  energy audit to identify energy conservation opportunities
• Conduct  waste audit to identify ways to reduce waste and increase current recycling efforts
• Conduct  water audit to identify water conservation opportunities
• LED Light Bulbs throughout facility
• Automatic light switches/ sensors installed throughout office, kitchen, meeting rooms, bathrooms
• Recycle bins in office & throughout stadium (for every trash can there is a recycling bin)
• Recycle used toner, ink cartridges, LED light bulbs, cardboard
• Participate in Climate Smart a carbon off-set program through Pacific Gas & Electric
• Grass-cycle by cutting landscape turf when grass is still short and leave grass cutting on lawn to decompose  

Merchandise Store

Game/Event Operations
• Kids' Corner balloon stand uses eco-approved balloons w/ cotton strings
• Press Box will no longer use bottled water
• Recycled napkins throughout concession stands
• Cooking oil from concessions is recycled and turned into biodiesel fuel
• Offering a concession stand (“The Clubhouse Grill”), featuring organic, locally grown produce
• Serving food in biodegradable containers including eliminating Styrofoam at the ballpark
• Produce souvenir program on FCS certified paper
• Partnership with Regional Transit to promote public transportation to the game
• Encourage fans to bike to the game – special bike parking with a bike valet

Education Efforts
• Green Awareness Weekend - entire weekend dedicated to getting the message out and involving River Cats partners who share the same goal (June 12-14, 2009)
• All giveaways during Green Awareness Weekend are eco-friendly
• Sponsors involved must have a legitimate eco-friendly message to be part of the  weekend
• Website dedicated to promoting Green Awareness Weekend and educating fans on what the River Cats are doing as well as what they can do
• Did you know tips strategically placed around the stadium reminding fans to be conscious (opt to not print a receipt at the ATM, grab one napkin instead of a hand full, etc.)
• Home Run Tour program sponsored by PG&E – school field trip program that adapts to the particular lesson plan the students are focusing on at that particular time and includes an energy conservation message
• Students receive a bookmark with energy savings tips and a seed paper that grows plants when planted in soil

FACTS: Courtesy of www.goodandgreen.biz

• Perceptions of environmental, ethical, and social stewardship are the fastest growing contributors to consumer brand value
• Over 66% of Americans believe ‘Doing well by doing good is a savvy business strategy.
• 30% of American consumers are willing to pay up to a 20% premium on clean, green products over non-sustainable alternatives...and that number grows each year.