Just in time for the Super Bowl, SunRun, the San Francisco-based home solar financing and installation startup has ranked the ten greenest stadiums in the U.S.

Though Cowboys Stadium, this year’s home to the big game, didn’t top the list, it made a strong showing nonetheless. Instead, the number 1 spot goes to Qwest Field, which embraced solar in a big way. And props to my local stadium, Meadowlands Stadium, for making the list.

SunRun’s list showcases some pretty big wins for solar, but it casts a telling shadow on a solar industry that struggles with even bigger missed opportunities. Besides providing an entry into affordable solar power for homeowners, lately the firm has been helping to lead the charge against byzantine permitting and approval processes — most by local governments — that make it tough for apparently anyone but sporting arena and big business owners to navigate.

Here’s the complete list, courtesy of SunRun:

1. Qwest Field, Home of the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Mariners – The stadium has installed solar panels to help the building offset double-digit percentage increases in electric rates.
2. Lincoln Financial Field, Home of The Philadelphia Eagles – In 2008, the Eagles produced 97 percent of their energy through renewable sources. The team also calculates their travel emissions and plants trees to offset their carbon footprint.
3. STAPLES Center, Home of the LA Lakers – Was awarded ISO 14001 Certification in 2010 for the third-party review of its Environmental Management System (EMS), making it the first U.S. arena to receive the respected accreditation.
4. Nationals Stadium, home of The Washington Nationals –The stadium is building LEED certification and has an in-house recycling center.
5. Cowboys Stadium, Home of the Dallas Cowboys – The $650 million stadium is aiming to reduce solid waste by 25%, energy use by 20% and water consumption by 1 million gallons annually.
6. Qualcomm Stadium, Home of the San Diego Chargers – The stadium boasts 350 ninety-four gallon recycling bins in the tailgating area.
7. Gillette Stadium, Home of the New England Patriots – Recycling bags are handed out at the parking lot and solar-powered compactors collect plastic bottles and cans around the stadium.
8. Meadowlands Stadium, Shared by the New York Giants and Jets – The seats are made from recycled plastic and the Environmental Protection Agency consulted on the construction of the stadium.
9. Progressive Field, Home of The Cleveland Indians – The stadium uses recycled paper and cornstarch cups in their concession stands.
10. The Future Home of the San Francisco 49ers – Still in its planning stages, the new stadium is slated to open in 2014 and will have solar panels and a green roof, recycled water, and a plan that would have almost a fourth of all fans arriving via public transport.

I’m not too thrilled about a non-existent stadium on the list (number 10), but if all of the planned features come to fruition, I suspect that it will shoot to the top of the list when it opens in 2014.

Image credit: Flickr user camknows – CC