The whole world is going green, and that includes and the world of sports. From individual athletes to entire franchises, more and more are becoming involved in the green movement in their personal and professional lives. Let’s take a look at some examples of the green arena of sports from the arenas to the teams.

Three Sports:

1. By going green, motor sports could have the quickest impact on public awareness of the planet's fate. The Formula One circuit has already discovered hybrids and biofuels, and Indy cars are mixing ethanol into their fuel. NASCAR is poised to phase out leaded gasoline, a neurotoxin. A Typical NASCAR engine averages 5 MPG. Over the course of a 500 mile race and an average of 30 cars competing that’s over 3000 gallons of fuel. That’s the amount of fuel consumed by 20 cars for a whole week's worth of driving in the US. There are other discussions on the table that by cutting the distance of races waste could be reduced…Can we get behind the Daytona 250? I know I could.

2. The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is working with the Major League Baseball to help their teams get greener. In 2008 the MLB enlisted the NRDC to help all of its 30 Major League teams become greener from the ground up. Each team was appointed an internet tool advisor that would help the teams go green in all aspects of operation. This includes but isn’t limited to energy use, transportation, recycling, and concession operations. A comprehensive look at the Commisioner, Bud Selig’s initiatives can been seen here.

3. Scientists told the NFL that Super Bowl XLI would put one million pounds of carbon dioxide into the air -- not counting air travel to Miami -- so the league planted 3,000 trees around Florida in an attempt to pull at least that much of the greenhouse gas out of the atmosphere. In 2009 The NFL purchased renewable energy from TECO to power the superbowl. And to top it off, when the Steelers celebrated their Superbowl victory in 2009, they did so in Organic Tee’s.

Three Teams:

1. Two years ago the men's lacrosse team at Middlebury College calculated its "carbon footprint" and raised money to purchase enough renewable-energy credits (investments in wind power) to offset those emissions. The effort to adopt Middleburys Green mission was spearheaded by the athletes themselves. Even the Middlebury Ski and Crew teams joined in to reduce travel costs by converting travel vehicles to run on waste vegetable oil.

2. The Philadelphia Eagles football team may have some of the most discourteous followers in sports, but their management is a leader, having launched an environmental initiative replete with catchy slogans like “Go Green” and “Time for Some Serious Trash Talk”. Launched in 2003 “Go Green” was an organizational shift in thinking and philosophy. Everything from replacing plastic cups, creating bio-fuel from recycled cooking fats, to Powering the entirety of the teams facilities on renewable energy, more than 14 million kilowatts of energy. Perhaps even more impactful if spreading the philosophy to employees by rewarding them for going wind power, reimbursing all converters so there are no out of pocket costs.

3. The New Jersey Nets are the first carbon-neutral NBA team. Specific goals will be unveiled in conjunction with six planned “Green Nights” games, at which the Nets will make announcements offering tips on waste reduction. The Nets are focusing to reduce their carbon foot print through improved energy efficiency, and cementing policies surrounding all materials used, consumed, and destroyed at their facilities. A big first step was the purchase of verified carbon credits that support major energy conservation projects around the globe.

Three Venues:

1. Phoenix Suns, US Airways Center: Staying true to their name, the Suns announced last fall that they'd be adding more than 1,100 solar panels to their facility, generating enough energy to power the equivalent of 26 home games a year. When they hosted this year's NBA All-Star Game, they asked players to create green PSAs, provided sustainable T-shirts for volunteers and pushed recycling.

2. Denver Nuggets, Pepsi Center: Unveiling an initiative called “Play Clean” last year, arena officials highlighted an impressive array of eco-steps at the Pepsi Center, which is home to three other teams, including the NHL's Colorado Avalanche. They're offsetting energy use, installing solar panels, designating hybrid-only parking spaces and a no-idling zone, promoting recycling and upgrading water fixtures.

3. Orlando Magic, Orlando Events Center: The Magic are building a multi-purpose events center in a downtown using local companies, installing native landscaping and even considered neighborhood identity in the stadium's design. It's also incorporating water and energy efficiency and other sustainable elements.