2008 FBR Open goes “green”

by Wire Services, January 17, 2008 PHOENIX, Ariz. – FBR Open tournament hosts The Thunderbirds are teaming up with the Leonardo Academy and Waste Management to help improve the environment and promote environmental awareness by making the 2008 FBR Open a “Green” event.

The Thunderbirds have engaged the Leonardo Academy’s Cleaner and Greener® Program to implement this greening program for this year’s FBR Open and future tournaments. Leonardo Academy is a Wisconsin-based charitable non-profit organization dedicated to advancing sustainability and putting the competitive market to work on improving the environment.

Leonardo Academy’s Cleaner and Greener® Program will help the FBR Open quantify the environmental emissions caused by the tournament and reduce and offset these emissions. Cleaner & Greener addresses the full range of emissions including the emissions that are detrimental to human health (SO2, NOx, PM10 and PM2.5, and Hg), as well as those that contribute to climate change (CO2). In addition, the Academy will develop strategies to reduce the Open’s environmental impact through decreased energy use, alternative transportation, and other sustainable actions, and offset remaining emissions through offset purchases.

The FBR Open will be the first PGA TOUR tournament to take on the challenge of implementing an environmental awareness program.

In addition to working with the Leonardo Academy on environmental emissions, The Thunderbirds will introduce a tournament-wide recycling program in partnership with Waste Management. Tournament attendees will be encouraged to drop recyclable items into specially marked containers throughout the tournament grounds.

“Environmental awareness and protection should be important to all of us,” said 2008 FBR Open Tournament Chairman Tim Louis. “As the largest attended golf tournament on the PGA TOUR and one of the biggest spectator events in the state, we feel it is our duty to do our part and make the FBR Open as environmentally friendly as it can be.”

What can FBR Open tournament goers do to improve the environment? According to Amanda Raster, Program Manager for Leonardo Academy’s Cleaner and Greener Program and Robert Dishman of Waste Management, here are the seven best ways reduce and offset emissions:

Carpool or use public transportation to and from the golf tournament
Choose materials with recycled/post-consumer content versus virgin materials
Recycle before, during and after the golf tournament
Reduce food waste where possible. Food vendors and restaurants are encouraged to donate all unused food prepared for tournament attendees to a local food pantry or homeless shelter.
Use renewable energy such as solar, wind or bio-fuels when possible
Purchase carbon offsets to offset energy use and emissions associated with the tournament

About Leonardo Academy

Leonardo Academy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded in 1997 that is dedicated to advancing sustainability and putting the competitive market to work on improving the environment. We develop and distribute strategies, guidance, metrics, standards, education and information on how to increase sustainability. We also help companies, organizations, families and individuals successfully promote, encourage and implement sustainability. Our integrated approach makes sustainability very practical for our clients. We provide sustainability assessments and strategy development for companies and organizations, support for LEED® Implementation and Certification for LEED-EB, LEED-NC and the other LEED rating systems, emissions footprint analysis and development of emission reduction and offset strategies, sustainable land management, sustainability education and training, and certification of emission reduction and offset achievements through our Cleaner and Greener® Program for events, companies and organizations.

About the FBR Open

The 2008 FBR Open will take place Jan. 28 – Feb. 3 at the TPC Scottsdale. Annually sporting the largest crowds on the PGA TOUR, the FBR Open has gained near legendary status for being unlike any other golf tournament. Annually hosting the Open, The Thunderbirds have turned the FBR Open into a community event commonly referred to as "The Greatest Show on Grass.” The 2008 edition will mark the 73^rd playing, and the fifth as the FBR Open, making it one of the five oldest events on the PGA TOUR. For more information about the 2008 FBR Open, visit www.fbropen.com.

About The Thunderbirds

The Thunderbirds were founded in 1937 when the Phoenix Chamber of Commerce expanded its role as a convention and tourism bureau. From caring for the underprivileged, to helping those striving to make the United States Olympic teams, The Thunderbirds have supported countless Arizona charities and have raised close to $53 million for those in need. Each member of the group has demonstrated a sincere interest in sports and a dedication to community affairs. For more information on The Thunderbirds or the 2008 FBR Open, call the Thunderbirds office at (602) 870-0163 or visit www.fbropen.com.

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