baseball has long been considered america’s national pastime, but the efforts of several major league teams to reduce their energy demand and the amount of garbage they send to landfills could soon make it one of america’s greenest pastimes.

the seattle mariners have begun a novel sustainability program which allows the team to recycle 82 percent of their trash, cut water use by 60 percent, save $1.2 million dollars in energy costs, and inspire their fans to become more environmentally friendly at home.

“i think that’s part of the exciting thing about sports, the conversation of conserving and paying attention to the earth,” said scott jenkins, vice president of baseball operations for the seattle mariners. “if you can do it through these iconic venues and these strong brands with teams, it’s a great opportunity to leverage our brand to deliver that message and hopefully encourage others to conserve.”