The 2010 Winter Olympic Games are starting today in beautiful Vancouver, British Columbia, Western Canada.
With their determination to “go green” the Vancouver Olympic Committee (VANOC) have offset carbon emissions and are encouraging athletes and spectators to embrace their unique environmental initiatives. VANOC have indicated that the Winter Olympic Games will be the greenest in the history of the organization.
For the Olympic Winter Games, energy is used for many things – to make snow, freeze ice sheets and sliding tracks, power equipment, heat buildings, and transport people and goods.
In order to help combat the carbon emissions caused by this enormous energy use, VANOC has developed a carbon management programme to reduce and offset emissions.
Advanced planning has focussed on reducing carbon emissions at the source. Transportation has been addressed by having the two green venues of Vancouver and Whistler designed and constructed as compact clusters, which minimise both energy use and travel requirements.
At the Whistler Sliding Center, waste heat energy from the ice refrigeration system has been harvested and reused to heat other buildings on-site.
The Olympic Oval located in Richmond, near Vancouver International Airport, has a roof with a state of the art collection system for rainwater, some of which is being used to supplement toilet flushing in the building. The remaining captured rain water is stored in a pond to be used for irrigation for surrounding trees and vegetation.
What is unique with these games is the clean air initiative at Olympic venues which is important for athletes, spectators and other visitors. This has been achieved because of a partnership between VANOC and BC Hydro, who provide emission free hydro electric energy. Gone are the dirty, portable diesel generators used at previous Olympic Games. A new automatic switching system will ensure a constant source of power should a single source become available.
The Public Transit has been extended for the 2010 Olympic Games, thereby reducing fuel use and carbon emissions.
The Direct emissions, such as those caused by venue construction and the operation of VANOC’S transportation fleet are being offset by the carbon management company Offsetters. The indirect emissions, such as those caused by travel to and from the Games by spectators and athletes, are still presenting a challenge for organisers to meet.
To help the Olympic Games meet its sustainability targets, those planning to attend could calculate their carbon footprint, make every attempt to reduce it, then purchase offsets for any remaining carbon emissions.
Canada is a huge country coast to coast. Canadians feel very passionate and proud to be hosting the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. Therefore air travel is expected to account for about 70 percent of the carbon footprint of the games, so flyers should be sure to offset their emissions and learn more about reducing their personal environmental impact.
Canadians traveling across Canada via aircraft will produce the following amounts of CO2. For amounts up to 1 tonne of CO2 one tree would need to be planted to offset your emissions. For each additional tonne of CO2 emitted, one additional tree would need to be planted. If travelling by any other means of transport, we suggest planting at least one tree to offset your transport emissions.
Vancouver, British Columbia to:
Calgary – 1057km - 0.17 tonnes of CO2 or 1 tree to offset.
Charlottetown – 5985km – 1.25 tonnes of CO2 or 2 trees to offset.
Edmonton – 1244km – 0.2 tonnes of CO2 or 1 tree to offset.
Fredericton – 5634km – 1.15 tonnes of CO2 or 2 trees to offset.
Halifax – 6119km – 1.22 tonnes of CO2 or 2 trees to offset.
Montreal – 4801km – 0.81 tonnes of CO2 or 1 tree to offset.
Ottawa – 4611km – 0.78 tonnes of CO2 or 1 tree to offset.
Quebec – 5071km – 1.05 tonnes of CO2 or 2 trees to offset.
Regina – 1822km – 0.30 tonnes of CO2 or 1 tree to offset.
St. John’s – 7248km – 1.38 tonnes of CO2 or 2 trees to offset.
Saskatoon – 1677km – 0.28 tonnes of CO2 or 1 tree to offset.
Thunder Bay – 3108km – 0.54 tonnes of CO2 or 1 tree to offset.
Toronto – 4492km – 0.74 tonnes of CO2 or 1 tree to offset.
Victoria – 66km – 0.05 tonnes of CO2 or 1 tree to offset.
Whitehorse – 2697km – 0.34 tonnes if CO2 or 1 tonne to offset.
Winnipeg – 2232km – 0.41 tonnes of CO2 or 1 tonne to offset.
Yellowknife – 2411km - 0.35 tonnes of CO2 or 1 tonne to offset.
To offset, you can purchase trees which will be planted in Africa where the highest growth rates and CO2 absorption occur. The Kyoto Protocol and NASA accept that one tree absorbs one tonne of CO2 on average. All trees planted are registered with the United Nations Tree Planting Programme. Trees can be purchased using the Paypal checkout at the bottom of the link provided.
Here are some more interesting FACTS and FIGURES:
90 percent less greenhouse gas emissions will be produced from generators for the 2010 Games, as compared to previous Games. Thanks to BC Hydro partnering with the Games, the air will be clean for the athletes, spectators and others to breathe.
330,000 tonnes is the target emissions goal for the Games, based on a carbon emissions forecast created by the David Suzuki Foundation.
704 tonnes of glass, plastic and paper were recycled by VANOC from its operations in Whistler and Vancouver in 2008 through 2009.
100 percent of Vancouver 2010 competition venues underwent environmental assessments to balance the needs of people and nature.
In summary the 2010 Vancouver Winter Games are the first Olympic Games to actively offset its carbon footprint from the initial planning stage until the close of operations.
Well done Canada! Enjoy the Games everyone! The spectacular Opening Ceremony will be on Friday, 12th February 2010.
