The Vancouver Organizing Committee (VANOC) has put a large emphasis on preventative emissions practices and energy reuse to reduce the Games’ carbon footprint. To minimize travel and transportation emissions, small clusters of houses have been built in Vancouver and around the Whistler Olympic Park. In Whistler, plans have been made to replace diesel generators with cleaner hydropower and reuse waste heat energy from various plants. “I think that it’s important that we actually preserve what is here and in a lot of cases, make it better,” said Doug Ewing, Whistler Project Manager.
Reaching beyond just sustainability and environmental awareness, Vancouver has created the Four Hosts First Nations, a program that involves four indigenous tribes in Olympic decisions – a completely new spin on the Olympics green efforts. The program will not only encourage indigenous participation, but also allow Canada to showcase its rich traditions and culture.
Even the famous torch has gone green. Bombardier, an engineering manufacturing company, and VANOC have designed the torch in Canada with a low environmental footprint in mind. The mold materials, fuel, and aluminum fuel tank are all recyclable and the combustion system releases minimal greenhouses gases. The torch relay process also produces greenhouse gas emissions through transportation, accommodations and of course, maintaining the torch flame. Through a partnership with the Coca Cola Company, VANOC, and others, hybrid cars will be used for transportation and vehicle sharing will reduce the emissions. Through these practices, VANOC hopes to cut down emission in the Olympics by 15 percent or 57 tons.
One of the most impressive innovations is the newly built Richmond Olympic Oval, the skating rink made with salvaged wood and an impressive ceiling. The building, which cost $178 million to construct, features a beautiful wooden arched roof design in the shape of a wave. According to Scientific American, the elaborate woodwork was made from a million feet of pine beetle-infested wood that would have otherwise been wasted. Also impressive is the rainwater collection technique that collects water in a pond for facility toilets and irrigation.
As part of the greening effort, Vancouver mayor Gregor Robertson has promised to recycle all of the nylon banners used to welcome visitors and bring Olympic spirit in the city. Most of the banners decorate more than six miles of roads near the main Olympics site. Some of the banners will even be used locally to make children’s schoolbags. "Reusing these banners will reduce the environmental impact of the Games," Robertson said Wednesday. "At the same time, we want the banners to be transformed into something that will help people in our community and will become a lasting, meaningful legacy."
