Six World Cup Stadiums Achieve LEED Certification
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An aerial view of Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janerio, Brazil (Photo by Alex Livesey - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)
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View of Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Buda Mendes - FIFA/FIFA via Getty Images)

RIO DE JANEIRO —  U.S. Green Building Council says Brazil's six 2014 FIFA World Cup stadiums have attained LEED certification, including Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, which will host the final World Cup game.

The LEED Silver Maracanã stadium, South America’s largest stadium, was built for the 1950 World Cup. In addition, Maracanã will be a major sporting venue for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games along with holding both the opening and closing ceremonies.

The other LEED-certified World Cup stadiums include Castelao Arena in Fortaleza (LEED Certified), Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador (LEED Silver), Mineirão in Belo Horizonte (LEED Silver), Arena da Amazônia in Manaus (LEED Silver) and Arena Multiuso in Salvador (LEED Silver).

“FIFA and the government of Brazil have shown great leadership and commitment to mitigating the environmental impact of these World Cup facilities," said Rick Fedrizzi, USGBC’s president, "making them a showcase of sustainable construction for the international community.” 

The Brazilian construction firm, Odebrecht, was responsible for the certification of Maracanã. Odebrecht,  which included sustainable innovations such as photovoltaic panels on the roof, rainwater reservoirs and selective collection for waste, said Felipe Faria, managing director of Green Building Council Brasil.

Faria says at the Castelao Arena was reported it diverted 97 percent of project waste was diverted from  landfill; Arena Fonte Nova diverted 75 percent of project construction waste from the landfill. And the stadium used 20 percent of its building materials constructed from recycled content.

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