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patriots logoThe press release below is jointly released from the New England Patriots (American Football team) and the deploying companies, but here’s a real example what we call a green-by-definition project….

FOXBOROUGH, Mass (August 2, 2010) – In a ceremony overlooking Gillette Stadium and The Hall at Patriot Place presented by Raytheon, Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG), Evergreen Solar, Inc. (Nasdaq: ESLR) and Patriot Place announced the completion of a photovoltaic power system that will generate approximately 525 kilowatts of clean, renewable solar power at Patriot Place, The Kraft Group’s shopping, dining and entertainment destination adjacent to Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts.

U.S. Representative Barney Frank and Massachusetts Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Ian Bowles joined The Kraft Group Chairman & CEO Robert Kraft and officials from Patriot Place, Constellation Energy and Evergreen Solar for the announcement.

“When someone of [Robert Kraft's] stature as a business leader and promoter of economic development shows you that the environmental movement can be not just a chore, but a source of economic strength and growth, I hope others pay attention,” said Congressman Frank during the program.

“This is good business and the greening of our environment is important for our children and grandchildren,” said Kraft.

“Through Governor Patrick’s leadership, Massachusetts is on track for a 20-fold increase in solar power over a four-year period,” said Bowles. “This new 525-kilowatt array at Patriot Place is another chapter in the Commonwealth’s solar success story – which has added jobs and companies across the Massachusetts economy. I congratulate Patriot Place, Constellation Energy and Evergreen Solar for a project that will have a huge public profile throughout football season and beyond.”

Constellation Energy’s subsidiary, Constellation Energy’s Projects & Services Group, began installing the system in November 2009. It now supplies approximately 30 percent of Patriot Place’s power and spans seven building rooftops at the complex. Among them is The Hall at Patriot Place Presented by Raytheon, an award-winning sports and entertainment experience. Photovoltaic panels on the roof of The Hall will be visible to visitors from inside Gillette Stadium and from Patriot Place’s upper retail plaza, promoting commercial applications of solar power.

“We are pleased to announce the completion of this beautiful new solar facility at Patriot Place,” said Michael Smith, Constellation Energy Sr. Vice President of Green Initiatives. “We’re confident that this highly visible project will promote solar power and its viability in states like Massachusetts, and hope that it spurs similar solar projects throughout New England.”

The system’s 2,556 solar panels will generate more than 625,000 kilowatt hours of electricity annually. They were supplied by Massachusetts-based Evergreen Solar. “We’re thrilled that Patriot Place has chosen Evergreen Solar for this highly-visible solar installation,” said Scott Gish, Vice President of Sales & Marketing for Evergreen Solar. “As a company producing solar panels that deliver more electricity with less impact on the environment including the smallest carbon footprint, we feel we align perfectly with the environmental goals of Patriot Place while demonstrating the viability of solar power to the many patrons and fans traveling through this incredible complex.”

Constellation Energy’s Projects & Services Group estimates that the system will generate more than 12 million kilowatt hours of electricity over 20 years, and prevent the release of more than 8,800 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.  That is the equivalent of removing more than 1,600 passenger vehicles from the road for a year.  The system’s real time power output and performance can be monitored through a Web-based data acquisition system.

Under a 20-year power purchase agreement, Constellation Energy‘s Projects & Services Group will own the energy assets and sell the electricity it generates on site to Patriot Place.

“This project is a cornerstone of Patriot Place’s sustainability initiatives and we are proud that its visibility will help promote practical and cost-effective commercial applications of solar power,” said Jim Nolan, Sr. VP of Finance, Administration and Operations for Gillette Stadium/Patriot Place.

Patriot Place, which began opening in phases in 2008, was constructed utilizing sustainable design practices, including low-emitting construction materials and white roofs to facilitate heat island reduction. Patriot Place also employs an on-site wastewater re-use system that saves millions of gallons of water annually, and solar-powered trash receptacles throughout the complex reduce waste volume and energy consumption.

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fifa

As a resident of The Netherlands for a couple of years, I caught a slight football (for Americans, soccer) fever and follow thholland-fans-fulle sport somewhat.  So of course I’m excited about the World Cup and the good (and lucky) start by the USA as well as the just-ended match in which the Dutch team has opened Group E with a win over Denmark.  Hup, Hup, Holland!  Go USA!

Building on this theme, we thought we’d also share with you two other resources in the larger planetary competition – that is, which countries are most aware of, most capable of, and most active in reducing their contribution to global climate change?


The other World Cup – who’s doing the most in the area of environmental sustainability?

We found two interesting measurements of this.

National Geographic’s Greendex(TM) – a survey of sustainable consumption

First, we found Greendex(TM) – a program run by National Geographic

Greendex is made up of four components:

  1. Qualitative survey of experts
  2. 17-country quantitative survey
  3. Greendex calculations
  4. Market Basket

So Greendex gives significant detail, but on a limited number of countries:

  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • Brazil
  • Canada
  • China
  • France
  • Germany
  • Hungary
  • India
  • Japan
  • Mexico
  • Russia
  • South Korea
  • Spain
  • Sweden
  • United Kingdom
  • United States

We encourage you to check this out.  As a project manager, it’s important for you to understand the context and full spectrum of stakeholders in the countries in which your project is taking place.  In fact, you can make this personal by taking the quick but challenging 5-question Knowledge Quiz on the National Geographic site and compare your score with colleagues worldwide.  The link to Greendex is here and also in the title of this section.  Find a PDF summary of the Greendex survey here.  OK., you want the bottom line?  India is in first place, and the United States is in last place in 2010.  Stunning.

Yale University’s EPI

Secondly, we found the Environmental Performance Index (EPI) which is run by Yale University.  Taken directly from the EPI site, here is the description of this index:

The 2010 Environmental Performance Index (EPI) ranks 163 countries on 25 performance indicators tracked across ten policy categories covering both environmental public health and ecosystem vitality. These indicators provide a gauge at a national government scale of how close countries are to established environmental policy goals.
The EPI is a sophisticated and detailed survey.  There is much to be learned even from the set of metrics that it uses to compare the 163 countries.  Again, you want the bottom line?  Iceland is in first place, and Sierra Leone is in last place in the EPI study for 2010.
The connection to project management
Again, we assert that there is a strong connection here.  As above, PMs should be aware of the context in which they work.  Secondly, the surveys give you an idea where the “action is” in terms of green projects.   Get smart about this – whatever your views on climate disruption and politics – and be better prepared for your projects.
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