The Super Bowl: The Field Isn't the Only Thing That's Green

Speaker: 
Jack Groh
 
18 Feb 2010
 
8:00 PM
 
Great Hall, Memorial Union

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Add to Calendar

Jack Groh is the director of the NFL Environmental Program, which was created to minimize the environmental impact of NFL events on the communities in which its games are played. The program evaluates the impact of events like the Super Bowl and then partners with local organizations and agencies to develop cost-effective ways to address those impacts. Efforts include reducing solid waste, increasing recycling and landfill diversion, tapping renewable energy for game-day usage, food recovery from Super Bowl parties for distribution to local food banks, and donations of materials used to construct and decorate temporary structures. The program also initiated a carbon-neutral initiative, a first in U.S. sports history. Part of the National Affairs Series: Innovation and Ethics.

Bio for Jack Groh Jack Groh is Director of the National Football League’s Environmental Program and a principal in the consulting firm of Groh Associates. Mr. Groh has been a communications and environmental consultant for more than 19 years and has worked on Super Bowl since 1993. He has been involved in environmental projects for the US Department of Energy, Argonne National Laboratory, the Northeast Sustainable Energy Association, the American Solar Energy Society, the State of Rhode Island, the National Clean Cities Coalition and the United States Consortium for Automotive Research. He has also worked on a number of environmental projects sponsored by General Motors, Ford Motor Company and Chrysler. His environmental work has been recognized for its high level of community, government, and sponsor support and participation; its practical approach to environmental problem-solving; and the significant return on investment (ROI) it provides to an event host community. He has helped event organizers develop environmental initiatives that cut costs and and provide measurable community benefits. Mr. Groh has delivered presentations on environmental project development to academic and corporate audiences across North America and Europe. He has been a featured speaker at environmental conferences organized by the United Nations and by the International Olympic Committee. Prior to working in the environmental and communications field, Mr. Groh was an award-winning journalist. Associated Press, UPI, and the Society for Professional Journalists have presented awards for his investigative journalism work.