Event Recap: Sustainability Tour of CHS Field
At the end of August, WEN hosted a tour at CHS Field – the home of the St. Paul Saints. The field is known for its many sustainable elements and its unique position in the heart of downtown Saint Paul.
Previously, the site was owned by Diamond Products/Gillette and was deemed a brownfield site. During construction, the design and build team at Ryan Companies was able to divert 98% of the waste from the existing structure from landfills as well as clean the soil. The stadium was designed to fit the feel of downtown St. Paul and be a bridge between the city to the greenspace at Bruce Vento Nature Sanctuary just to the east.
One highlight of the tour was seeing the rainwater collection system. The stadium collects rainwater from the roof of the neighboring building for watering the field and for use in restrooms. The group saw the cistern, which holds 27,000 gallons of water.
The 27,000 gallon cistern collects rainwater for reuse in toilets and field irrigation.
Another sustainable feature of the stadium is the lighting. There are 40% less lights facing the field than at the previous stadium and they are very focused to minimize disruption to the neighbors from light pollution.
The stadium also has two sets of solar panels, each the size of a tennis court, that total 100 kW. Each year, the panels produce 12.5% of the ballpark’s electricity needs – which is equivalent to the annual power use of 12 typical American homes.
100-kW of solar panels supply over 12% of the stadium’s electricity needs.
Other sustainability features incorporated into the stadium include tree trenches, composting and recycling, sub field filtration, as well as being located in an area with plenty of public transportation options.
In addition to the sustainability features, the tour guide gave a historical background of the team and some of the highlights over the years. New this year, the St. Paul Saints are now the feeder team for the Minnesota Twins.
After the tour, participants went to network and socialize at a local restaurant in Lowertown, Dark Horse Bar & Eatery. Many thanks to CHS Field for an engaging tour! More information about the sustainability at CHS Field can be found on their website: www.chsfield.com/information/sustainability.
