The 2010 Winter Olympics, which is currently underway in Vancouver, is being touted to be the greenest ever. There are medals made of recycled electronics, world’s largest hydrogen bus fleet and the LEED Platinum certified Olympic Village in Vancouver’s Southeast False Creek. A number of steps have been taken to make the games eco-friendly. Here are the major highlights of the Winter Olympics that make it the greenest ever.
Olympic medals:
Vancouver metal giant Teck Resources in collaboration with the Royal Canadian Mint is transforming trash into medals for the athletes. The symbols of honor are made by recycling old computer parts. The 2010 Olympics medals are based on two artworks of an orca whale and raven by Corrine Hunt.
Fuel cell buses:
British Columbia Transit has deployed 20 hydrogen fuel cell buses to provide the visitors to the Winter Olympic Games zero emissions transportation to the ski resort of Whistler. These buses set out as part of BC’s ongoing effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
LEED Platinum convention center:
The Vancouver Convention Center West is a result of Seattle-based LMN Architects and Vancouver-based MCM and DA hard work. This home to the Winter Games media center, has a living roof of 400,000 native plants that capture and reuse rainwater. It also has seawater heating and cooling and on-site water treatment. It is the world’s first LEED Platinum convention center.
Sustainable dance floor:
It’s time to rock the dance floor at Club Energy while generating some energy during the boogie at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics. At the downtown (Power Smart Village) of the Olympic City, a sustainable dance floor created by British Columbia Hydro and SustainableDance Club, an organization based in Rotterdam, Holland awaits all.
Olympic uniform:
In order to make its sponsorship of the Games, Coca-Cola is using uniforms made from recycled plastic bottles. Their staff will be seen wearing uniforms made from 120 used plastic bottles. The brand has sponsored the Olympics since 1928 and this year looks forward to take the zero-waste and carbon neutral approach.
The Olympic Village:
The Olympic Village in Vancouver’s Southeast False Creek has building with green roofs, cisterns to catch rainwater, passive solar design, upgraded insulation and windows as well as carpets and paint with low or no VOC. It was awarded LEED Platinum certification, certifying it as the greenest, most energy efficient and sustainable neighborhood on Earth.
Richmond Olympic Oval:
The dramatic Richmond Olympic Oval, where speed-skating events are held The dramatic Richmond Olympic Oval, where speed-skating events are held has developed into a beacon of environmental sustainability. It has massive wood wave roof with innovative rainwater collection system that uses the water for irrigation and toilet flushing.
