Germany wins 2014 World Cup in energy efficient stadium
While the football battle of the continents continues, 50 percent of this headline will be true no matter how many goals die Mannschaft scores against los Albiceleste this Sunday. The energy efficiency part that is. Maracanã, South America’s largest stadium and the host of the final world cup game, is making history again 60 years after its completion. The US green building council announced recently that the iconic building, among four other world cup stadiums in Brazil, achieved LEED certification due to several design upgrades that result in lower resource consumption.
[caption id="attachment_1363" align="alignleft" width="307"]
Maracanã Stadium in Rio de Janeiro by Fernandes Arquitetos – Architectural poster illustrations by André Chiote[/caption]
The greening of these World Cup facilities is the perfect showcase for sustainable business opportunities in Brazil and beyond. World Cup sponsor Yingli Solar, which many of you might recognize from the ad banners during games, partnered with Light ESCO, EDF Consultoria and the State of Rio de Janeiro to equip Maracanã’s roof with 2,380 square meters of solar panels, generating enough energy to power 240 homes and avoiding 2,500 tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year. The Maracanã Solar project was developed by the same company that designed the new roof structure, German SBP.
The Maracanã wasn’t the only stadium that incorporated green features for the World Cup. The Castelao Arena in Fortaleza features a 68 percent reduction in drinkable water consumption, a 13 percent reduction in annual energy consumption and 97 percent of the project waste was diverted from the landfill by recycling and reusing construction and demolition materials.
Authors
Katalin Solymosi
Katalin es especialista de BID Invest en el uso sostenible de la tierra. Maneja productos de financiamiento concesional y servicios de asesoramiento p
LIKE WHAT YOU JUST READ?
Subscribe to our mailing list to stay informed on the latest IDB Invest news, blog posts, upcoming events, and to learn more about specific areas of interest.
SubscribeDigital Economy
Related Posts
How to Create Jobs in the Caribbean: From Payment Delays to Payroll Growth
Discover a pathway that speeds up payments, unlocks cash flow, and empowers Caribbean entrepreneurs to take more orders and hire.
Financial Health: Driving Growth in Latin America and the Caribbean
According to the latest Global Findex database, the proportion of adults in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) with account ownership rose from 39% in 2011 to over 75% in 2025. This increase was driven by the rise of digital-first financial service providers, expanded government transfers, and innovations that enhance the value proposition, such as the growth of e-commerce and instant payment systems in countries like Brazil, Peru, and Costa Rica.
Microinsurance: The New Frontier for Financial Resilience in Latin America and the Caribbean
In Latin America and the Caribbean, fewer than 10% of people with potential access currently use microinsurance services. However, this gap in financial protection is beginning to narrow. The expansion of the insurtech ecosystem is transforming the insurance sector, deploying digital and innovative solutions that strengthen financial protection for the most vulnerable populations.