Padres Sustainability

Petco Park has a 336-kilowatt solar array installed on the ballpark canopy. These 716 high efficiency 570-watt solar panels produce more than 1 million kWh of renewable energy per year. This is the largest solar project in Major League Baseball and produces more solar energy than all the other MLB ballparks combined. The Padres also partnered with San Diego Gas & Electric to install a 125-kW battery storage system on-site to compliment the solar array and offset peak energy demand.

On-site solar panels fulfill 1/20th of the overall energy demand at the park with excess purchased from San Diego Community Power, Power 100 program. By using 100% renewable electricity, the Padres were able to offset 10,570,000 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) in 2025. This is equivalent to greenhouse gas emissions from an average gasoline-powered passenger vehicle driving 13,458,567 miles and would require 5,301 acres of U.S. forests to counteract and sequester the amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere if the facility did not use renewable energy.

In accordance with California law SB-1383, the Padres are proud to roll out a new composting program. Fans will see 2-stream trash bins throughout the ballpark for diverting compost and recycling waste. “Landfill” bins will be converted to “Compost” bins, and signage will be posted next to each receptacle informing fans which bins to toss their trash in. SB 1383 is the most significant waste reduction mandate to be adopted in California in the last 30 years. The mandate requires the state to reduce organic waste (such as food waste, green waste, and paper products) disposal by 75% in 2025.

The 2-bin system streamlines waste management by providing distinct receptacles for only recyclables and food waste/food ware, effectively eliminating the need for landfill bins. In addition to modifying the supply chain with Delaware North to convert the supply chain to mostly compostable products that are proven to break down at the local composting facility through field testing, all bins will then be sorted by the Petco Park janitorial team, Aramark, to separate out the non-compostable items.

Beyond fan waste, Petco Park diverts the following from the landfill:

• Commingled recyclables
• Cardboard
• Construction debris
• Green waste (grass clippings from the playing field)
• Wood pallets
• Cooking oil
• Light bulbs/ballasts/batteries
• eWaste (computers/electronics)
• Uniforms
• Soft plastics

In 2025, the Padres diverted a total of 2002.8 tons of waste from the landfill, including 46.6 tons of food being donated to Father Joe’s Mission and 856.1 tons of organic and compostable service ware ending at Republic’s compost facility.

In 2024 the Padres opened Gallagher Square to extend the initiatives at Petco Park beyond the physical walls of the stadium into the greater San Diego Community. In addition to continuing ballpark waste, energy, and water efficiency measures outside of the stadium, Gallagher Park has a variety of sustainability features including

• Turf to save water and energy costs.
• Stormwater runoff infiltration swale.
• Native vegetation to support the local ecosystem.
• Light colored paving to decrease urban heating in the heart of the city.
• Outdoor recreation facilities, playground, dog park, etc. enabling San Diegans to spend more time outside.

The Gallagher Square restoration project was also a zero-waste construction project. 67% of construction and demolition materials from the project were properly recycled or reused and 100% of soil from the project, 12752.26 tons, were recycled by our hauling company and used for their own construction projects. Ultimately, the Padres were able to keep 14,841.90 tons of waste out of the landfill, resulting in an overall 96% waste diversion rate for 2024 at Petco Park.

Petco Park was built in an urban area on a brownfield redevelopment site. This protected undeveloped green space in the county.

Alternative Transportation - Petco Park is located within a ¼ mile from the San Diego Trolley and MTS Bus Station. The Padres Parkade offers ten electric vehicle charging stations, as well as other parking garages in the area. There are also bike share availability and bike racks for patrons.

Heat Island Reduction - Many urban areas suffer increased heat loads from asphalt, pavement, and building roofing in high density areas. In Downtown San Diego, Petco Park's natural playing field and Park at the Park contributes to reduced heat island effect. Furthermore, the white roof canopy and steel structure also provide a high solar reflectivity index rating which further reduces the heat island effect.

Since Petco Park’s inception in 2004, the Padres have been consistently updating their technology and appliances to ensure a high standard of energy and cost efficiency.

• The ballpark utilizes system level metering and a real-time Energy Management Dashboard to monitor 14 electric meters and 30 sub meters throughout the ballpark and benchmarks energy data through EnergyStar Portfolio Manager.
• The ballpark also utilizes a computer-based Building Automation System to control heating, cooling, and lighting systems. This system uses schedules, occupancy sensors, and variable frequency drives to optimize building performance and energy management.

• Petco Park’s indoor plumbing fixtures have all been upgraded to low-flow water saving fixtures. The water fixtures are certified by the EPA Water Sense program and meet the 2006 Universal Plumbing Code water use ratings.
• Petco Park’s Water Wall feature at home plate gate operates with recirculated water.
• Potable water meters and irrigation water meters provide real time data, helping to identify irrigation leaks and water saving opportunities.
• Building chilled water-cooling plant and heating hot water plant are closed loop systems that require minimal make up water.

• In 2016, the ballpark replaced the field sports lighting with LED technology, cutting sports lights energy consumption in half from more than 1 million watts to 500,000 watts.
• The ballpark converted more than 40,000 building lighting fixtures from incandescent HID and fluorescent fixtures to LED fixtures.
• The ballpark features advanced lighting controls with schedules, photocells, and occupancy sensors.

• Ballpark utilizes ionized water and non-toxic, biodegradable cleaners and Green Seal products.
• Refrigeration units are free of ozone depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s)
• Digital and paperless ticketing for fans to reduce material use and improve waste diversion
• Paper products are made with recycled materials for office use, cleaning, and restrooms.

Petco Park regularly updates their HVAC system, improving overall energy efficiency at the park by adding the following features:

• Walk in freezer thermal storage units and high-speed automatic doors to save energy during times of non-use.
• Heating hot water loop converted to variable speed flow
• Implemented HVAC supply air temperature reset based on load, upgraded HVAC fan coil motors, and installed demand response controls on HVAC.
• Replaced ballpark ice machines with EnergyStar units.
• Installed demand-control variable speed drives for kitchen hood exhaust fans and temperature on/off controls for exhaust fans.
• Installed plug load controls to shut down equipment in concession stands during non-events reducing energy consumption during times of non-use.
• Added variable speed drives on spa filter pumps.
• Added PC Power Management software to reduce ballpark computer energy use.
• Implemented controls to turn on/off electric hot water heaters based on event needs, installed a smaller “pony” chilled water heat exchanger to reduce CW use on non-event days, reduced CHW pump speed with variable speed drives and controls optimization.

2025 Play to Zero Energy Champion Award for 100% Energy reduction or offsets

2025 Play to Zero Waste Champion Award for over 90% Waste Diversion over the 2024 year

2025 Major League Baseball Green Glove Award

2024 Green Sports Alliance Play to Zero Energy Champion Award for 100% reduction or offsets. Petco Park was one of only two venues to receive this award.

2022 San Diego Community Power POWER100 Champion for 100% renewable energy partnership and commitment

2019 Councilmember Christopher Ward Special Commendation for participation in the Smart Kitchen San Diego Initiative.

2016 Stay Golden Energy Leadership Award from Energy Upgrade California in recognition of commitment to Environmental Leadership & Clean Energy

2016 Entertainment Champion for Excellence in Energy Savings from SDGE Energy Showcase

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