Though the Cowboys and architect HKS did not design the new stadium to LEED standards, they did include many environmentally advanced features in the $1.1 billion facility, slated to open for the 2009 NFL season.

The goal of the program is clear, as stated on the EPA Website: "Performance Track recognizes and drives environmental excellence by encouraging facilities with strong environmental records to go above and beyond their legal requirements. Members set typically four public, measurable goals to improve the quality of our nation's air, water, and land. Members include major corporations, small businesses, and public facilities that are steering a course toward environmental excellence." And although the program itself has been criticized over the years for not doing enough to push environmental standards -- three years ago Environmental Integrity Project faulted the program for not achieving any real change, and the EPA's own Office of Inspector General criticized the program for not establishing measurable performance standards -- that doesn't mean the Cowboys front issue isn't adopting green-friendly during the construction phase and planning more for day-to-day operations.

Overall, the Cowboys have set goals to reduce water usage by 1 million gallons annually, energy use by 20 percent and solid waste by 25 percent through practices like these:

• Recycling construction waste; about 90 percent is being recycled.
• Planting of native trees and plants in the area around the stadium
• Using grass parking to reduce runoff
• Installing seats made partially with recycled plastics
• Purchasing renewable energy
• Reducing the use of lighting during daytime hours through the installation of a translucent roof and plenty of glass windows

To be eligible for the program, the facility must be audited after it opens. Managers of the facility, however, are allowed to set green standards tailored for their own building (a point of contention with outside environmental groups), and the process must include periodic reviews and the setting of new goals on a regular basis.