The field was green, very green.

But aside from the grass lying at the base of Nationals Park in Washington, D.C., fans attending the season opener between the Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals likely were hard-pressed to point out the remaining green attributes specified at the new home of the Nationals, who apparently have become Major League Baseball’s (MLB) most environmentally conscious franchise.

As is the case with many green buildings, occupants might not notice the stadium’s sustainable attributes. But a graphic published in a recent USA Today sports section identifies the stadium’s varying green characteristics. The stadium also caught the attention of Fast Company magazine, which profiled the facility on its Web site. Nationals Park is aiming to become the first MLB stadium to achieve Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council.

Cost always is a concern when tackling a green project. The Nationals Park architect heard it would cost $10 million or $20 million more than normal to build a LEED-certified park, according to the Fast Company article. But that was not the case, as the park ended up being about $2 million more than a non-LEED-certified stadium. Plus, energy-saving components, like high-efficiency field lighting, will help recover some of the upfront costs, according to the article.

Here are some of the other green attributes featured at the stadium, according to USA Today and Fast Company:

  • Air-cooled chillers instead of water-cooled chillers will save 6 million gallons of water annually.
  • Low-flow faucets and dual-flush toilets will save 3.6 million gallons of water a year.
  • A 6,317-square-foot green roof over a concession area features drought-resistant plants.
  • A wastewater system uses sand filters to prevent contaminants from reaching the Anacostia River.

Environmental friendliness was part of both the design and construction of Nationals Park. An estimated 5,500 tons of building materials removed from the site will be recycled, and more than 20 percent of the materials used during construction contain recycled content, according to USA Today.

Although many fans might not even realize it, green extends well beyond the playing field at Washington, D.C.’s newest attraction.