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A new survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that nearly 40 percent of people are sleep-deprived the Monday after the Super Bowl. Anna Bizon / Getty Images
- Last year, an estimated 14 million people were planning to take off work the day after the Super Bowl on what's become the most famous sick day of the year: #SuperSickMonday.
- A new survey finds that 40 percent of people say they're sleep-deprived the day after the Super Bowl.
- Even just one night of sleep deprivation can take a toll on your physical and mental health.
A new survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) found nearly 40 percent of people are sleep-deprived the Monday after the Super Bowl.
<p>The game itself starts at 6:30 p.m. EST and can go well into the night. Most Super Bowls usually last around <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2017/2/4/14403598/how-long-is-the-super-bowl" target="_blank">3 hours and 45 minutes</a>, assuming the game doesn't go into overtime and there are no major costume malfunctions during the halftime show.</p><p>The whole shebang should wrap up at around 10:15 p.m. EST.</p><p>But many people keep the party going long after the winning team takes home the Vince Lombardi Trophy and end up getting a choppy night of sleep.</p><p>Last year, an estimated <a href="https://www.multivu.com/players/English/8254451-mucinex-supersickmonday/" target="_blank">14 million people</a> were planning to take off work the following day on what's become the most famous sick day of the year: #SuperSickMonday.</p><p>In fact, a survey from last year found that <a href="https://www.businessnewsdaily.com/11258-super-bowl-fever-employee-truancy.html" target="_blank">32 percent</a> of workers want the Monday after the Super Bowl to be declared a national holiday.</p><p>And a <a href="https://time.com/5771417/super-bowl-saturday/" target="_blank">16-year-old</a> in New York recently started <a href="https://www.change.org/p/nfl-change-the-superbowl-to-saturday" target="_blank">a petition</a> to move the Super Bowl to Saturday since so many people end up staying up late to watch the game.</p>
How much will one night of little sleep hurt you?
<p>Skimping out on sleep never feels good.</p><p>Sure, you might feel more grumpy than usual, but sleep deprivation — even just after one night — can take a toll on your <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5449130/" target="_blank">physical and mental health</a>.</p><p>"Even one night of missed sleep can cause irritability, dark circles, or puffy eyes (since missing a night of sleep can cause fluid to accumulate under your eyes), feeling forgetful the next day, or having slower reaction times, which can lead to making mistakes," said <a href="https://www.yalemedicine.org/doctors/lynelle_schneeberg/" target="_blank">Dr. Lynelle Schneeberg</a>, a sleep psychologist at Yale Medicine and author of "Become Your Child's Sleep Coach."</p><p>It can affect your judgment and mood and also up your risk for an accident or injury, according to <a href="http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/matters/consequences" target="_blank">Harvard Medical School</a>.</p><p>This is especially true for those driving while feeling drowsy. The Institute of Medicine estimates that drowsy driving is the cause of <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20669438" target="_blank">20 percent</a> of all motor vehicle crashes.</p><p>In the workplace, a lack of sleep can lead to <a href="http://healthysleep.med.harvard.edu/healthy/matters/consequences/sleep-performance-and-public-safety" target="_blank">impaired productivity and focus</a>. You're also more likely to feel stressed out, as fragmented sleep affects the stress hormones that control your ability to function.</p><p><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5449130/" target="_blank">Research</a> has also found it can worsen the symptoms of any underlying medical conditions.</p><p>But how much you'll feel these effects really comes down to how healthy you've been in the days leading up to the Super Bowl, according to <a href="https://med.nyu.edu/faculty/rebecca-j-scott" target="_blank">Rebecca Scott</a>, PhD, an assistant professor of neurology and sleep medicine specialist at NYU Langone Health.</p><p>"The better rested one is going into the shorter night of sleep, the less they will feel any impact," Scott told Healthline.</p><p>Humans are designed to be able to handle a night or two of less sleep without any major consequences, she adds. It's when it builds up that our health really starts to go downhill.</p>Alcohol and fatty foods can make it worse
<p>The Super Bowl is often synonymous with a night of <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/drinking">drinking</a> <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/beer" rel="noopener noreferrer">beer</a> and eating unhealthy, fatty foods — two things that can further impair a good night's sleep.</p><p>Alcohol prevents us from getting into a restorative, deep sleep, which is necessary for learning, memory retention, and cognitive functioning.</p><p>"Although one might fall asleep more easily after having alcohol, alcohol prolongs the amount of time it takes to fall into a dream, reduces the overall amount of dream sleep across a night, and can result in several brief awakenings as we metabolize the sugar in the alcohol," Scott said.</p><p>In addition, it's harder for the stomach to digest fattier foods. "These foods can cause indigestion or stomach upsets, which can worsen sleep, of course," Schneeberg said.</p>Here’s how to avoid #SuperSickMonday
<p>Unless you've been pulling all-nighters for days in a row, one night of little sleep won't do much damage. Scott says you should take the night and enjoy yourself.</p><p>"We often put work and responsibilities first, so give yourself permission to take an evening off without guilt," Scott said.</p><p>There are some strategies for reducing your chances of feeling completely miserable the next day.</p><p>First, do your best to have healthy sleep habits for the 2 days before and after the Super Bowl. Aim for around 8 hours of sleep, avoid caffeine in the late afternoons, and make sure you're well hydrated.</p><p>"One missed night of sleep is not usually a significant problem as long as you get back on track the very next night," Schneeberg said.</p><p>If you're already running low on sleep and expect to feel even worse the Monday after the Super Bowl, Scott says to be patient with yourself.</p><p>"Know that you might have a harder time focusing or be a bit more irritable than usual, and plan around that to the extent you can," Scott said.</p><p>Sleep deprivation symptoms tend to be worse in the afternoon — between 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. — so maybe avoid big activities in that window.</p><p>As long as the Super Bowl is on a Sunday and the day after isn't a national holiday, the best you can do is take care of yourself in the days leading up to the big game and set an earlier bedtime the night after.</p>The bottom line
<p>A new survey from the American Academy of Sleep Medicine found that nearly 40 percent of people are sleep-deprived the Monday after the Super Bowl.</p><p>Even just one night of sleep deprivation can take a toll on your physical and <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/mental-health">mental health</a>.</p><p>But how much you feel those effects really boils down to how healthy you've been in the days before and after the Super Bowl.</p>From Your Site Articles
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Ambassadors with the #SuperCoralPlay campaign. Nicolette Amico / Newlink
Only the Kansas City Chiefs and the San Francisco 49ers will get to play in Super Bowl 54 in Miami Sunday. But anyone can make a #SuperCoralPlay.
<p>That's the name of a joint campaign from MSC Cruises, the Miami Super Bowl Host Committee (MSBHC),and 54 NFL players and influencers to raise awareness about the need to protect <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/coral-reefs" target="_self">coral reefs</a>. It invites individuals and businesses to make a <a href="https://supercoralplay.org/pages/take-the-challenge-now" target="_blank">#SuperCoralPlay</a> by pledging to take action to help save coral and the wider environment and then posting on social media to spread the word. The campaign launched with a music video Jan. 16 featuring Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald, Cleveland Browns wide receiver Jarvis Landry and broadcaster and retired NFL quarterback Mark Sanchez.</p><span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="8bbbda9d5d16a6af790c22c857a8e0c4"><iframe lazy-loadable="true" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/O0WEWF2XbBY?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
<p>"I'm a diver and I love the ocean – it's certainly a passion point for me," Sanchez said of his decision to get involved.</p><p>He highlighted the fact that coral reefs are in serious trouble — the UN's Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change-ipcc-report-2610866229.html" target="_self">estimates</a> that 70 to 90 percent of them could be wiped out in the next two decades because of the <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/" target="_self">climate crisis</a>.</p><p>That's why the <a href="https://mscfoundation.org/" target="_blank">MSC Foundation</a> is working in its <a href="http://www.oceancaymsc.com/" target="_blank">Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve</a> in the Bahamas to identify and rebuild the reefs using "Super Coral" — hardy species of corals that have survived extreme ocean heat waves.</p><p>"We were just at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve a couple weeks ago and it's impressive to see the work MSC Foundation is doing by researching Super Coral – something that can have a global impact. But it's everyone's responsibility to take care of the world's reefs and that's why we wanted to get involved in Super Coral Play," Sanchez said.</p><p>If you're wondering exactly how to participate, Landry has the answers.</p>
<p>"We all have to do our part by making a play to reduce our carbon footprint. It's easy. You can switch to LED lightbulbs, refuse single use plastic or ride a bike instead of a car. Once you choose your play, post about it on social media using #SuperCoralPlay and challenge two friends to join the movement," he said.</p><p>You can also purchase a <a href="https://supercoralplay.org/products/super-coral-play-bracelet" target="_blank">Super Coral Play bracelet</a> made from abandoned fishing nets. For every bracelet sold, the MSC Foundation will propagate a new Super Coral.</p><p>So why is all this environmental activity centering around the Super Bowl?</p><p>"Every year the Super Bowl has a philanthropic focus, and this year it is the environment," Matthew McKinnon, Chair of the Advisory Board of the MSC Foundation, explained. "We were excited to team up with Miami Super Bowl Host Committee (MSBHC) and these 54 NFL players and influencers to help amplify our message about the importance of coral and raise awareness of the need to protect them."</p><img lazy-loadable="true" src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8yMjY0MjI4NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTU5NTc4MzE0Nn0.Cy0gdo37BpzxVlUsexB0z-2Ww8IEmDcHXhwDOFcQNcQ/img.jpg?width=980" id="78c50" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="45c44aa4b0a26b15faf2b563907f25cf" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image" />
Ocean Cay in the Bahamas, where the MSC Foundation is working to find and promote 'Super Coral.' Conrad Schutt
<p>Participating in #SuperCoralPlay isn't the only way the Super Bowl is going green. For three years now, the game has worked to make sure stadium trash doesn't end up in a landfill, <a href="https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2020/01/super-bowl-54-zero-waste-miami/?cmpid=org=ngp::mc=crm-email::src=ngp::cmp=editorial::add=Science_20200129&rid=48CC0311F587B019F9A7DFAEDA55B8D6" target="_blank">National Geographic explained</a>.</p><p>In 2018, 90 percent of the waste generated at the U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis was composted or recycled. This year, the stadium is aiming to phase out 99.4 percent of its single-use <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/tag/plastic" target="_self">plastic</a>. To that end, it is using aluminum containers for beer and water and compostable material like bamboo for cutlery.</p><p>Environmental groups say the big game is an excellent chance to raise awareness about sustainability.</p><p>"There really is no bigger stage than the Super Bowl to bring folks around the conversation," George Leonard, the chief scientist at the <a href="https://oceanconservancy.org/" target="_blank">Ocean Conservancy</a>, told National Geographic.</p>
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A screenshot from the Budweiser "Wind Never Felt Better" 2019 Super Bowl commercial. YouTube
Budweiser's parent company is continuing to associate with groups with anti-climate agendas and ties to dark money, despite several ads aired during Sunday night's Super Bowl that portray the beverage giant as environmentally friendly, The New Republic reports.
Three of eight commercials aired by Anheuser-Busch on Sunday had themes around renewable energy, water conservation and organic farming, including one spot that brags that Budweiser is "brewed with wind power for a better tomorrow."
<p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="fb5cf3214aaeddcd247ef63659d6dc07"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UKDA2HVlgko?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Budweiser | Wind Never Felt Better | 2019 Super Bowl Commercial</small>
<small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">
<a href="https://youtu.be/UKDA2HVlgko" target="_blank">youtu.be</a>
</small>
</p><p>However, membership records and conference attendances show that Anheuser-Busch is still involved with both the Chamber of Commerce foundation and the American Legislative Exchange Council, two groups with notable anti-<span style="background-color: initial;">climate</span> and <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/tag/climate-denier">denialist</a>-influenced stances and members. <br></p><p>As reported by <a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/153016/budweiser-2019-super-bowl-ad-climate-change" target="_blank">The New Republic</a>:</p><blockquote>"Anheuser-Busch frames its commitment to renewable energy and clean water as being for the good of the planet, not the company's bottom line. 'Climate change is the most pressing issue confronting our planet,' Anheuser-Busch CEO Carlos Brito <a href="https://twitter.com/abinbev/status/870982258693349376" target="_blank">said</a> in 2017. "We at AB InBev are committed to doing our part." But if that's true, then the planet could use fewer virtue-signaling Super Bowl ads and more honesty about the political causes that Budweiser drinkers are unwittingly supporting."</blockquote><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
<iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" id="twitter-embed-984077401272483840" src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-984077401272483840&created_ts=1523457310.0&screen_name=EcoWatch&text=Nestl%C3%A9%27s+Plastic+Initiative+Called+%27Greenwashing%27+by+Greenpeace+https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2FiARQUzXHQv+%40Greenpeace%E2%80%A6+https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2F9bk6jNNeNO&id=984077401272483840&name=EcoWatch" frameborder="0" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="75QJFG1580739491"></iframe>
</p><p><strong>For a deeper dive:</strong><br></p><p><a href="https://newrepublic.com/article/153016/budweiser-2019-super-bowl-ad-climate-change" target="_blank">The New Republic</a></p><p> <em>For more </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/climate-change-news/" target="_blank"><em>climate change</em></a><em> and </em><a href="http://ecowatch.com/business/renewables/" target="_blank"><em>clean energy</em></a><em> news, you can follow Climate Nexus on </em><a href="https://twitter.com/ClimateNexus" target="_blank"><em>Twitter</em></a><em> and </em><a href="https://www.facebook.com/ClimateNexus/" target="_blank"><em>Facebook</em></a><em>, and sign up for daily </em><a href="http://climatenexus.us4.list-manage1.com/subscribe?u=d1f5797e59060083034310930&id=7c84c08aaa" target="_blank"><em>Hot News</em></a><em>.</em></p>
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Cision PR Newswire
When we think of Budweiser's Super Bowl commercials, images of croaking frogs or horses playing football usually come to mind. But for this year's big game in Atlanta, the beer giant is going green.
Budweiser, which switched all its U.S. beer brewing to renewable energy last year, debuted a dreamy spot called, "Wind Never Felt Better," featuring its iconic Clydesdales, a Dalmatian and wind turbines.
<p>
The 1-minute ad is set to Bob Dylan's "Blowin' in the Wind" and has already been watched more than 65,000 times on YouTube.
</p><p>So far, it's been pretty well-received by viewers. "It is beautiful to see companies taking a stand, understanding corporate responsibility," one YouTube commenter wrote.
</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-youtube">
<span style="display:block;position:relative;padding-top:56.25%;" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="e77dc648c8db8adf106039fa07feb279"><iframe type="lazy-iframe" data-runner-src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/UKDA2HVlgko?rel=0" width="100%" height="auto" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" style="position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;"></iframe></span>
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Budweiser | Wind Never Felt Better | 2019 Super Bowl Commercial</small>
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<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UKDA2HVlgko" target="_blank">www.youtube.com</a>
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</p><p>
Bud's eco-friendly makeover is a definite shift from a bunch of men <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W16qzZ7J5YQ" target="_blank">saying "Wassup" to each other</a>.
</p><p>
"Those who wait for the best commercials all year expect Budweiser to show up big, and we felt there was no better way to show up this year than to talk about our commitment to renewable electricity," said Ricardo Marques of Anheuser-Busch, the brewer that makes Budweiser, Bud Light and many other beers, in a <a href="https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/budweiser-clydesdales-deliver-a-wind-powered-message-on-this-years-super-bowl-stage-300782620.html" target="_blank">press release</a>.
</p><p>
"We are proud to be the first Anheuser-Busch brand and the first major beer brand to be brewed with 100 percent renewable electricity from wind power and hopefully we can use this moment to inspire others in our pursuit for a more sustainable future," Marques added.
</p><p>
<span></span>What's more, Anheuser-Busch agreed to offset the electricity used during Super Bowl week in the host city of Atlanta.
</p><p>
The company "will supply Atlanta's Super Bowl Host Committee with renewable energy attributes to power the equivalent of the city's energy consumption for six days, including during the largest sporting event of the year," according to a press release sent to EcoWatch.</p><p>The electricity will come from Enel Green Power's <a href="https://www.enel.com/media/press/d/2017/05/enel-starts-construction-of-new-298-mw-wind-project-in-the-united-states-" target="_blank">wind farm in Oklahoma</a>. In 2017, Anheuser-Busch signed a long-term power purchase agreement for 152.5 megawatts of output from the 298-megawatt Thunder Ranch facility.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-twitter_embed">
<iframe width="100%" height="150" scrolling="no" id="twitter-embed-1088150883085492224" src="/res/community/twitter_embed/?iframe_id=twitter-embed-1088150883085492224&created_ts=1548270362.0&screen_name=AnheuserBusch&text=.%40budweiserusa%27s+%23SuperBowlLIII+commercial+brings+its+long-term+sustainability+goals+to+the+biggest+stage+of+the+ye%E2%80%A6+https%3A%2F%2Ft.co%2Fx7vvrRqUpA&id=1088150883085492224&name=Anheuser-Busch" frameborder="0" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="7CLZ5Z1580739459"></iframe>
</p><p>"The renewable electricity purchased is the equivalent energy used to brew more than 20 billion 12 oz. servings of beer each year and is capable of meeting up to 50 percent of Anheuser-Busch's total annual purchased electricity," the press release noted.<br></p><p>
Last year, Atlanta became the the biggest city in the U.S. South to adopt a <a href="https://www.ecowatch.com/atlanta-clean-energy-2585744734.html" target="_self">100 percent renewable electricity goal</a>.
</p><p>
"It's exciting to see Budweiser partner with Atlanta to power the city with renewables, too. By working together to drive down emissions, businesses and local governments can accelerate the clean energy transition around the world," Amy Davidsen, the North America Executive Director at The Climate Group, said in the press release.
</p>
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Trending
U.S. Bank Stadium
By Marlene Cimons
Early one December morning in 2010, the inflatable roof on the Minnesota Vikings' old stadium in Minneapolis ruptured and collapsed under the weight of 17 inches of wet snow. No one was hurt, but the incident was a wake-up call for the Vikings' front office. The team needed a new facility that could withstand the rigors of a Minnesota winter.
<p style="">On Sunday, the stadium will be on full display as Minneapolis hosts Super Bowl LII between the New England Patriots and the Philadelphia Eagles. The U.S. Bank Stadium, which replaced the old Metrodome in 2014, is built to endure the fiercest storms. And, because bitter cold outside makes it costly to keep the stadium warm inside, the venue also deploys an array of energy-saving features.</p><p>"We knew that the roof had to be strong enough to weather significant 100-year snow loads," said John Hutchings, who led the team at <a href="http://www.hksinc.com/" target="_blank">HKS Architects</a> that designed the building. "No storm will collapse this roof." In addition to winning awards for its near-indestructible roof, the U.S. Bank Stadium earned a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council for conserving energy.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNzE1NDE1NS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTU5MDU4NTM4NX0.X7VF5SUH5V97DcA-o1ah4q-aAOUzvanV8bXNosAAWTU/img.jpg?width=980" id="44dfb" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="129fd9d3159fccd1e2550d66e8ce7b1f" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Inside the U.S. Bank Stadium. </small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">Nic Lehoux</small></p><p style="">U.S. Bank Stadium's roof is treated with a special glaze that deflects sunlight, and helps to melt snow quickly. Its pitch is very sharp, which helps snow slide into large snow gutter—50 feet wide at its largest. The roof allows natural sunlight in, which helps the venue save money on lighting.</p><p>"The roof creates an ideal outdoor atmosphere inside the stadium," Hutchings said. "So much sunlight pours into the bowl that it's not unusual to see fans wearing sunglasses inside." The roof is the one of the stadium's most popular features.</p><p style="">"I think the daylight quality of the game really makes you feel like you're outside and creates a pretty good fan experience," said Richard Strong, an architect with the University of Minnesota's <a href="http://www.csbr.umn.edu/" target="_blank">Center for Sustainable Building Research</a>, which made sure the stadium followed state sustainability guidelines. "The balance between energy efficiency and the ability to have a lot of light is one of the things that stadium really achieved."</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNzE1NDE1Ny9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYyNjc5MjM3NH0.DBrORzNF98iX2QkNgPwssnWQcPMC9379CEt6GqmJKk8/img.jpg?width=980" id="8f25b" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="1aad48f391f9b250edb6c8c011885378" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">Vikings fans entering their stadium.</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">Nic Lehoux</small></p><p style="">Most Vikings games are played when it is cold—usually below 45 degrees Fahrenheit—with temperatures that can plummet to less than -10. Heating typically makes up 50 percent of building energy use in this region, so stadium designers decided to use solar heating and capture heat in the facility as it rises, then recirculate it to the fans below. The system redistributes warm air in the winter and pumps in cold air during the summer.</p><p style="">U.S. Bank Stadium is one of just 80 LEED-certified sports venues in the U.S., according to the <a href="http://aceee.org/" target="_blank">American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy</a> (ACEEE). It is also the first NFL stadium to be built with LED lighting, which uses 75 percent less electricity than metal halide lighting typically deployed in stadiums.</p><p style="">Furthermore, the stadium offsets all of its energy with <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/renewable-energy/">renewable energy</a> credits. It deploys low-flow faucets to save water. It was built with a single steel truss, instead of two, which reduced the amount of steel needed for construction. And, it has committed to becoming a zero waste facility where almost all waste is recyclable or compostable.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNzE1NDE1OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzODY4MDAwN30.GAZDxNcwJWA15zZ5_ZGcDenQcbHZtMBQpLLAPfb_3Tc/img.jpg?width=980" id="4f61a" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="f06f21082bc0395e3dddad0c45143187" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">U.S. Bank Stadium boasts an energy-saving weatherproof roof.</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">Nic Lehoux</small></p><p>Minnesota was ranked 9th in ACEEE's 2016 State Energy Efficiency <a href="https://database.aceee.org/state/minnesota" target="_blank">Scorecard</a> because of its energy efficiency policies. The state's building standards call for structures built after 2010 to consume 60 percent less energy than the average building, with the goal of reaching net zero by 2030. The U.S. Bank Stadium is working to adhere to these standards.</p><p>"I think the stadium sends a message to the people of Minnesota about being environmentally responsible," Strong said. "It comes very close to meeting all the state's sustainability guidelines."</p><p style="">One issue yet to be resolved is whether the building's glass windows pose a danger to birds. Many birds migrate to or through Minnesota in large numbers, according to the Audubon Minnesota, which raised the issue of potential bird collisions before the stadium opened. Since then, Audubon, the Minnesota Sports Facility Authority, the University of Minnesota and Oklahoma State University announced they would collaborate on a <a href="http://mn.audubon.org/press-release/msfa-vikings-and-audubon-minnesota-collaborate-monitoring-study-us-bank-stadium" target="_blank">two-year study</a> to evaluate the threat.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNzE1NDE2Ni9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYzMTAzNTY3MX0.co8qcCHtbBjMQkqUxvxXqje9bBnvCN2BvwePkyT3lSw/img.jpg?width=980" id="49960" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="cef15a0acc94d0cccd43d76cb393c1bb" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">The partially clear roof cuts down on electricity and gives fans an outdoor-like experience.</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">Nic Lehoux</small></p><p style="">The U.S. Bank Stadium is one example of a larger <a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/cutting-waste-one-fan-at-a-time-63d6ef2b146c" target="_blank">trend</a> among college and professional sports teams to conserve energy, both to save money and to limit carbon pollution that contributes to <a href="http://www.ecowatch.com/climate-change/">climate change</a>. This effort assumes a higher profile during the Super Bowl.</p><p style="">"Given the bewildering retreat from essential, science-based climate policy being enacted by the worst environmental administration in our nation's history, a counter message by the NFL promoting progress on climate could not be more important," said Allen Hershkowitz, chairman of <a href="http://www.sandsi.org/#/home" target="_blank">Sport and Sustainability International</a>." As one of the most visible sporting events in the world, the Super Bowl has a unique opportunity to promote environmental literacy and reduce cultural polarization related to climate change."</p><p>"The U.S. Bank venue's commitment to 100 percent renewable energy credits, combined with its ambitious zero waste goals, and the region's intelligent mass transit infrastructure, position this event to be among the most carbon intelligent Super Bowls ever," he said.</p><p class="shortcode-media shortcode-media-rebelmouse-image">
<img type="lazy-image" data-runner-src="https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0dHBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xNzE1NDE2OC9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hdCI6MTYxMjQyMjY2NX0.e6tQxu3Azj-bG9XWHb2D6xB3UNkyJVgTUiVkg7jU9fo/img.jpg?width=980" id="d02e9" class="rm-shortcode" data-rm-shortcode-id="9c3353908d14e4e3c418ec98fb9bdcd1" data-rm-shortcode-name="rebelmouse-image">
<small class="image-media media-caption" placeholder="Add Photo Caption...">On the field of the environmentally responsible U.S. Bank Stadium.</small><small class="image-media media-photo-credit" placeholder="add photo credit...">Nic Lehoux</small></p><p>While locals are happy to see Minnesota represented in Super Bowl LII, game day will be bittersweet. Strong, a lifelong Minnesotan, regrets the fact that the Vikings won't be in it. They suffered a crushing loss to the Eagles in the NFC championship game two weeks ago, and they won't get to play at home in the biggest football event of the year.</p><p>"We would have loved for them to be playing in the Super Bowl, in their home stadium, and in front of a national audience," Strong said. "We really wanted to be able to root for the hometown team."</p><p style=""><em>Reposted with permission from our media associate <a href="https://nexusmedianews.com/super-bowl-lii-tackles-sustainable-design-47068aa7721d" target="_blank">Nexus Media</a>.</em></p>
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