University of Pittsburgh
IN-16: Green Athletics

The University of Pittsburgh's Athletics Sustainability Program functions under the Pitt Athletics Sustainability Committee (in the University’s Athletics department) -- and is run by the Athletics Student Sustainability Intern.

GOVERNANCE

The Pitt Athletics Sustainability Committee is headed by the Athletics Student Sustainability Intern and is comprised of members from various athletics offices, main campus sustainability faculty, student athletes, and band members.

As a group, the Pitt Athletics Sustainability Committee guides sustainable initiates that Athletics should tackle in collaboration with University-wide sustainability initiatives.

A member of the Pitt Athletics Sustainability Committee also sits on the Chancellor’s Advisory Council for Sustainability and on its Carbon Commitment Committee (Dustin Gray, Executive Associate Athletic Director for Administration). In addition, the Athletics Student Sustainability Intern also often represents Athletics at Pitt Sustainability Council meetings.

The Athletics Student Sustainability Intern position was created in Fall 2018 and filled by the same undergraduate student through 2021. Starting in 2022, a new Athletics Student Sustainability Intern was hired -- and will graduate in Spring 2024. Interviews for the third student to fill this role will take place in April 2024.

RECOGNITION

Pitt Athletics became a member of the Green Sports Alliance in February 2019.

GOAL SETTING

Informational Athletics Sustainability Committee meetings are held monthly, including goal discussions. For example, an October 2023 goal for discussion included implementing a sustainability section on the Pitt Athletics website featuring Athletic building energy and water use. Goals already met include:
* Highlighting sustainable Pitt Athletics merchandise on social media,
* Hosting Pitt Green Games and/or sustainability / zero waste-themed games
* Recruiting student athletes to join the Committee, and
* Inviting the Petersen Events Center general manager to discuss materials diversion signage for trash, compost, and recycling.

MATERIALS DIVERSION

Pitt’s primary athletic building is the Petersen Events Center (“The Pete”), which was one of the first campus buildings to fully deployed a compostable diversion in 2018. Diversion rates over the past 6 years have tallied:
• 2023 = 7.14 tons (through November)
• 2022 = 17.88 tons
• 2021 = 15.49 tons
• 2020 = 13.85 tons (pandemic influenced)
• 2019 = 16.41 tons
• 2018 = 7.53 tons

By the end of 2024, every Pitt Athletics team will have hosted at least one home “Pitt Green Game,” focused on sustainability on campus and proper materials disposal. Pitt Green Games participate in specialized materials diversion from landfill, ensuring that fans and students know how to properly dispose of their materials while on-campus. Student sustainability groups run game materials diversion and assist fans in ensuring waste is placed in the proper landfill or materials diversion receptacles. One of many campus-wide materials diversion efforts, Pitt Athletics hosted 3 Pitt Green Games in 2023.

TRANSPORTATION

Each Pitt Athletics team organizes its own travel. For practices, most teams practice on campus, to which athletes walk, take the Pitt Shuttle, or carpool in athletic department vehicles. For off-campus practices, teams such as Women’s Lacrosse use a charter bus typically holding 45 people, eliminating the need for single-occupancy vehicle trips 24 times per year for just the one team. Most teams similarly use charter busses for regional competitions, including Volleyball, Soccer and Lacrosse.

FACILITIES UPGRADES

In January 2020, Pitt Athletics announced its “Victory Heights” expansion vision, including building facilities upgrades. The largest of these facilities already under construction is the Arena & Sports Performance Center, which will be the new home for Pitt volleyball, gymnastics, and wrestling.

Expected to open in 2027, the Arena will also provide a functional and modern training area, including cutting edge equipment and space for strength and conditioning instruction to support the University’s student athletes. The 240,000 square foot new building is pursuing LEED certification at the Gold level or better. Copious sustainability features are included in its design, including rooftop solar panels, over 63,000 square feet of green roof, energy efficiency measures such as air-side energy recovery and efficient lighting, and more.
Learn more -
https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/campus-culture/facilities/buildings/arena-sports-performance-leed/

FOOTBAL TICKETS - In 2021, the Pitt football team moved to entirely electronic ticketing, eliminating upwards of 40,000 printed tickets per home game.

2023 Pitt Green Games - https://www.instagram.com/p/CyERVAULk-P/?next=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fp%2F5HqFR8EsZz%2Fliked_by%2F%3F__coig_login%3D1&img_index=4

Arena & Sports Performance Center Pursuing LEED certification -
https://www.sustainable.pitt.edu/campus-culture/facilities/buildings/arena-sports-performance-leed/

2020 Petersen Sports Complex (PSC) Upgrade (Pursuing LEED certification) -
https://www.fm.pitt.edu/petersen-sports-complex

2020 PSC Architectural description - https://www.dlaplus.com/pages/petersen-sports-complex-addition

2019 Pitt Athletics Joins Green Sports Alliance - https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2019/2/15/general-pitt-athletics-joins-green-sports-alliance.aspx

2019 Petersen Events Center lighting upgrade - https://pittsburghpanthers.com/news/2019/10/30/general-petersen-events-center-receives-upgrades-for-2019-20-season.aspx