NHL counterbalances water and carbon footprint

The National Hockey League counterbalanced the water and carbon footprint of the 2015-16 Stanley Cup Final, restoring approximately 1,075,698 gallons of water to the Colorado River and purchasing sufficient carbon offsets and renewable energy certificates (RECs) from Constellation - the NHL's Preferred Energy Provider - to cover emissions resulting from the two arenas and team travel. The RECs support wind energy, while the offsets support methane recapture from landfills. The NHL's investment in these environmental assets support ongoing work to reduce emissions of our operations through better, cleaner practices and technologies.
The NHL also engaged with fans through a text-to-pledge water restoration campaign, collaborating with Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) and
Change the Course
, a platform connecting pledgers and corporate sponsors. The League promoted the campaign to its 4.82 million Twitter followers, committing to restore 1,000 gallons of water per pledge, resulting in an additional 231,000 gallons restored, thanks to fans.

WATER RESTORATION PROJECT:
In 2011, the NHL partnered with BEF to launch its
Water Restoration Project
, an initiative that has since restored over 50 million gallons of water. As a result of the NHL/BEF partnership, the 2011 Bruins v. Canucks Stanley Cup Finals was the first-ever water-neutral Series in League history, restoring over 1 million gallons of water to Oregon's Deschutes River. The 2011-12 season also resulted in
Gallons for Goals
: a League commitment still adhered to today: to restore 1,000 gallons of water for every goal scored in regular season.
The objective of BEF's Water Restoration Certificate (WRC) program is to help businesses offset their water footprints by restoring water to the multitude of deteriorating fresh water resources in the U.S. Each WRC restores 1,000 gallons of water and is certified by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
NHL GREEN:
The NHL's efforts to counterbalance water and carbon is exemplary of the League's overarching commitment to the environment. The NHL not only allocates financial resources to offset its physical footprint, but is also taking unprecedented strides to attract attention and encourage broader action through initiatives like its recent text-to-pledge campaign. The sport of hockey was born outdoors, on frozen ponds. Cold climates and fresh water are necessary if the tradition of outdoor hockey is to continue to flourish. The NHL is committed to preserving the climate so that the next generation of hockey stars can be afforded the privilege of skating on natural ice.