The Phoenix Gym Will Be Solar-Powered

by Marcel Mutoni

Steve Nash cares about the environment passionately. Last season, he famously wore shoes made of recycled materials, and now in part thanks to his efforts, the Suns’ arena will be enviro-friendly starting in the 2008-’09 season.

Nash, who is also doing it for his own home, convinced his employer to use solar panels to keep the lights on in the gym.

From the Arizona Republic:

The Phoenix Suns plan to use solar panels for power at the US Airways Center, becoming one of only a handful of professional sports teams that get a portion of their energy from renewable sources like sun or wind.

The new photovoltaic system will consist of more than 1,100 panels and be installed on the fifth level of the center’s parking garage at First and Madison streets in downtown Phoenix. At 194 kilowatts, it will produce enough energy to reduce the team’s power usage by the equivalent of 26 home games each season, Suns General Manager Steve Kerr said.

This is a terrific move (and cost-effective, too!) by the Suns organization, and Nash should be lauded.

Here’s to hoping that other teams around the Association will follow their lead.