Earth Day, Recycling, Conservation and Energy Efficiency at Petco Park

Here to learn more about Petco Park’s standing as an Earth-friendly, environmentally forward-thinking ballpark? You’ve come to the right page. San Diegans should take a lot of pride in the investment and ongoing proactive commitment to sustainable, eco-friendly practices at Petco Park — a pride shared by sports fans across the country.

The San Diego Padres organization has taken major strides to minimize environmental impact and preserve natural resources for future generations.

100% Renewable & Solar Energy

Petco Park is powered by 100% renewable, carbon-free electricity through San Diego Community Power’s Power100 program. On-site solar generation fulfills approximately 5% of overall energy demand, with remaining power sourced entirely from clean renewable energy.

The ballpark features a 336-kilowatt solar array installed on the canopy structure. Composed of 716 high-efficiency 570-watt modules, it generates over 1 million kWh of renewable energy annually — making it the largest solar project in Major League Baseball. A 125-kW battery storage system installed in partnership with SDG&E complements the array by offsetting peak energy demand.

Electrified Chiller & Heat Recovery Plant

Petco Park utilizes an electrified 1,200-ton magnetic bearing centrifugal chiller plant paired with a 588-ton thermal storage system, saving over $1.5 million annually in utility costs. The thermal storage system freezes water during off-peak night hours to cool the stadium during peak daytime temperatures.

For the 2026 season, the Padres expanded this infrastructure to include a unified maximum-efficiency heating and domestic hot water plant featuring a cutting-edge heat recovery chiller. By capturing waste heat from cooling systems and recycling it into facility heating, the unified system yields an additional $85,000 in annual energy savings and reduces heating greenhouse gas emissions by an average of 93%.

State-of-the-Art Composting & Waste Diversion

In accordance with California mandate SB-1383, Petco Park utilizes a 2-stream waste management system throughout the concourses, eliminating standard landfill bins in favor of dedicated Compost and Recycling receptacles. Concession partner Delaware North supplies compostable foodware, while the stadium janitorial team sorts waste streams post-event to maximize diversion.

In 2025 alone, Petco Park diverted over 2,002 tons of waste from landfills, including 46.6 tons of edible food donated to the San Diego Rescue Mission and 856.1 tons of organic waste processed at regional composting facilities. Additional diverted material streams include:

• Commingled recyclables and cardboard
• Playing field green waste and wood pallets
• Cooking oil, light ballasts, batteries, and e-waste
• Construction debris, uniforms, and soft plastics

Gallagher Square & Urban Sustainability

Reopened in 2024, the revitalized Gallagher Square extends Petco Park’s environmental commitments into the surrounding neighborhood with water-efficient artificial turf, native landscaping, a stormwater runoff swale, and light-colored paving designed to mitigate the urban heat island effect. The renovation was executed as a zero-waste construction project, achieving a 96% overall diversion rate by recycling 67% of demolition materials and 100% (12,752+ tons) of excavated soil.

Water Conservation & Energy Management

• LED Lighting: Field sports lighting was converted to LED in 2016 (cutting sports lighting power use by 50%), alongside over 40,000 interior LED fixture upgrades equipped with automated occupancy sensors.
• Water Efficiency: All indoor fixtures meet EPA WaterSense low-flow standards. Closed-loop cooling and heating plants require minimal makeup water, while real-time metering tracks irrigation output.
• Green Operations: Stadium cleaning relies on ionized water and Green Seal-certified non-toxic products. Digital ticketing eliminates paper waste at entry gates.

Pollution-Reducing Transportation

Built on a brownfield redevelopment site in downtown San Diego, Petco Park sits within a quarter-mile of the San Diego Trolley and MTS Bus networks. The Padres Parkade and surrounding structures offer EV charging stations, supported by local bike-share options and on-site bike racks.

Industry Recognition & Awards

• Sports Business Journal: 2026 Sports Facility of the Year
• Major League Baseball: 2026 Diamond Diversion Award & 2025 Green Glove Award
• Green Sports Alliance: Play to Zero Energy Champion (2024, 2025, 2026) & Material Management Leader (2026)
• Industrial Environmental Association: 2026 Environmental Excellence Award

Read more about the official San Diego Padres Environmental Sustainability Program.