The Twins announced on Monday that Target Field has achieved LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Gold recertification for Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance from the U.S. Green Building Council due to the Twins organization's continued efforts and enhancements at Target Field with an eye toward sustainability.

Target Field had opened as the second Major League Baseball facility to earn LEED Silver for New Construction in 2010, joining Nationals Park. In '11, the Twins also earned LEED Silver in Existing Buildings: Operations and Maintenance, becoming the first professional sports franchise to earn both LEED Silver certifications. In '17, the Twins became the first franchise to earn LEED Gold certification in Exiting Buildings: Operations and Maintenance.

Target Field is also the first sports venue in the United States to earn three levels of LEED certification through Arc, a digital technology platform that organizes real-time sustainability data to help users track and improve sustainability and achieve certification.

"The Twins organization’s commitment to LEED demonstrates a tremendous amount of green building leadership within the world of professional sports," said Mahesh Ramanujam, president and CEO of the U.S. Green Building Council. "Target Field is a prime example of how innovative technology and sustainable solutions can create a better experience for everyone who steps foot in this stadium."

The Twins earned LEED points from previous certification efforts and by tracking and improving operations in areas such as alternative transportation use, energy and water efficiency, waste diversion and recycling, air quality, and human experience.

The presence of Target Field Station helps the Twins maintain connections to 500 trains daily via two METRO lines and the Northstar Commuter Rail. The Twins have captured and reused nearly 19 million gallons of rainwater in partnership with Pentair, a Minneapolis-based water treatment company. They also reduced energy use by approximately 55 percent by upgrading field lighting to LED technology prior to the 2017 season.

Working with the company Eco-Products and using aggressive recycling and waste-to-energy programs, the Twins have kept more 10,870 tons of waste out of local landfills from 2011-18 and composted 2,207 tons from '15-18. They have also worked with concessions partner Delaware North Sportservice and nonprofit Rock and Wrap it Up! to donate more than 10 tons of food to local charities every season.

The Twins also debuted a "living wall" batter's eye at Target Field for the 2019 season, featuring approximately 5,700 sea green plants in a unique, self-irrigated structure that further underscores Minnesota's commitment to sustainability.

"The Twins organization remains fully committed to being an industry leader in regards to environmental sustainability," Twins president and CEO Dave St. Peter said. "Growing Target Field’s sustainability platform remains a critical priority for the franchise and our fans."