06 Feb 14 | Author Saleha Riaz | Research, Trends & Technology
The Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games is the first Games in history to mitigate the entire direct carbon footprint of its Organizing Committee prior to the Opening Ceremony. Over 520,000 metric tons (MT) of CO2 equivalents have already been mitigated through the ’Sustainable Future’ programme, implemented in Russia by Worldwide Olympic Partner and Official Carbon Partner of Sochi 2014, The Dow Chemical Company.
Since March 2013, Dow has been working with its customers in Russia to implement energy efficient and low-carbon technologies in the areas of infrastructure, industry and agriculture within different regions of the country. The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions reductions delivered to date by the groundbreaking “Sustainable Future” programme have been verified by 3rd party international experts ERM, who confirmed that results far exceeded the footprint of 360,000 MT of CO2 equivalents – the estimated direct carbon footprint of the Games.
Sochi 2014 will be the first Olympic and Paralympic Games with a neutral carbon footprint associated with the travel of spectators and media attending the event. This footprint was estimated to be 160,000 MT of CO2 equivalents. Dow worked with international experts Offsetters to offset the travel footprint prior to the Opening Ceremony by retiring carbon credits from a portfolio of high-quality projects developed to international standards, and recognised under the International Carbon Offset and Reduction Alliance (ICROA) Code of Practice.
Selected by the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee and the IOC to be the Official Carbon Partner of this year’s Olympic Winter Games, Dow stepped up to the challenge by working closely with the organisers, renowned international experts and Russian companies to identify and assess opportunities to deliver substantial greenhouse gas emissions reductions and technology enhancements in key areas of the Russian economy.
After a thorough evaluation, Dow implemented the ‘Sustainable Future’ programme with projects targeted at air sealing solutions for buildings to enhance energy efficiency, technologies to enhance energy efficiency of industrial processes, low-weight and high-strength materials for structural integrity and durability of civil infrastructure, and a holistic project to increase crop yield and engage local producers on how to reduce emissions and conserve energy in agricultural and farming practices.
Source: Intelligent Building Today
