NHL Clubs ready for Earth Day 2013

Throughout the NHL season and in celebration of the 43rd anniversary of Earth Day on April 22, NHL Clubs have implemented environmental programs in their communities and sustainability efforts in their facilities. Here is a snapshot of how several NHL Clubs are participating in activities and events leading up to and around Earth Day:

BUFFALO: The Buffalo Sabres Green Team will be teaming up with the Buffalo Recycling Alliance to host RecycleFest (part of Global Youth Service Day) on April 27, from 12 to 2 p.m. Global Youth Service Day is an annual event in which youth around the world do acts of service for their communities. This year, the Buffalo Recycling Alliance has made recycling a major priority. Before RecycleFest, teams of youth will be walking around the neighborhood picking up litter and educating local residents about recycling.

COLUMBUS: The Columbus Blue Jackets and their partners at Scotts Miracle Grow will be celebrating Earth Day with the Columbus gardening community at the Scott’s Miracle-Gro Community Garden Campus at the Franklin Park Conservatory and Botanical Gardens. The event will include tours of the gardens, a program with Mayor Coleman, hands-on activities and gardening demonstrations.

LOS ANGELES: The LA Kings and the STAPLES Center have a number of events planned for Earth Day and Earth Week. On April 21st, the LA Kings will host the “Heal the Bay Awareness Night”, highlighting the local non-profit environmental group’s work to keep southern California coastal waters and watersheds safe, healthy and clean. The event at Sunday’s game will be followed by a STAPLES Center Foundation & Kings Care Foundation Beach Clean Up on Earth Day at Dockweiler State Beach.

MINNESOTA: The Minnesota Wild and Xcel Energy Center are hosting a variety of events around this year’s Earth Day. The organization will be staging an outdoor employee gathering complete with music and an update of the facility’s sustainability initiatives, followed by a campus clean up. Additionally, all operations on Earth Day will be 100% offset with renewable wind energy, through Xcel Energy’s WindSource program. The facility will be holding a drive for unwanted cellphones to benefit Orangutan conservation and daffodils will be placed throughout the Café in honor of the holiday. Make sure to check out the Minnesota Wild’s social media outlets, which will be posting sustainability tips each day leading up to Earth Day.

PHILADELPHIA: The Philadelphia Flyers and the Wells Fargo Center are celebrating Earth Day by announcing their incredible landfill diversion rate increase. From 2012 to 2013, the facility has increased materials diverted from landfills from 9% to 77% through a partnership with their food service provider and waste hauler.

PHEONIX: The Phoenix Coyotes and Jobing.com Arena are celebrating Earth Day by turning off all non-essential lighting, including their exterior neon “Jobing.com” sign, to display the organization’s environmental commitment and remind fans to conserve energy.

TORONTO: The Toronto Maple Leafs and Air Canada Center’s Team Up Green are celebrating Earth Month with a slew of environmental events. April 16-20 Team Up Green is hosting a Spring Clean and Reuse, where employees are encouraged to bring in old books, DVDs, CDs and clothing, which will be donated to Covenant House, as well as old skates, equipment, sticks, soccer balls, and basketballs which will be donated to Right to Play and KidSport. On April 19th, Team Up Green organized a 20 Minute Corporate Clean Up for their campus (WATCH THE VIDEO). Finally, all month, the 6th floor of 40 Bay Street (gate 1 and gate 6) will feature green walls made of living plants to showcase this innovative environmental product and celebrate Earth Month.