This week for the current event I found an article about NASCAR. The article was entitled "NASCAR, rooted in fossil fuels, turning over new, green leaf." This article may seem curious to readers because NASCAR cars guzzle gas continuously as they only get about 5 mpg. The engines used in the cars are internal combustion engines that many find synonymous with global warming. So what is NASCAR doing to achieve this greener image?
The article specifically talks about what the racetracks, not the cars, are doing to become greener. It is mentioned that racetracks are building solar farms to power their air conditioned suites. They are also planting trees to offset their carbon emissions. Race shops are being built in accordance with the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification. A specific team shop that was mentioned is Roush Fenway Racing.
NASCAR has also focused on reducing its carbon footprint in campgrounds and grandstands at tracks. In order to reduce the footprint, they had to calculate the current carbon footprint. With help from carbonfund.org the 2008 Daytona 500 carbon footprint was calculated at 14,163 tons. Carfax sponsored NASCAR in 2007 and made an environmental donation to offset more than 4,200 tons of emissions for a Nationwide Series race at Michigan International Speedway.
Vehicles in general are trying to go towards the green route. General Motors, Ford, Toyota and Dodge are all producing hybrid automobiles. The president of Toyota Racing Development is interested in following the green look because it make racing more relevant to what consumers are looking for in businesses.
Other efforts include recycling bins at events, oil recycling, and its Green Cleaner Air project. The project will plant 10 trees for every caution flag at 11 races throughout the season and then at all tracks in 2010. In the end, NASCAR says it will offset a race's impact by planting 20 green acres.
If you would like to see the full article that was published in USA Today, visit http://www.usatoday.com/sports/motor/nascar/2009-10-28-green-cover_N.htm
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