The US National Park Service (NPS) recently presented its 2007 Environmental Achievement Awards to two parks and two concession companies that incorporated high environmental standards into their operations.
“These parks and concessioners are dedicated to sustainable design, recycling, and energy-efficiency,†said Mary A. Bomar, director of the National Park Service. “Their accomplishments provide a roadmap for success in environmental leadership as we prepare for the NPS Centennial in 2016.â€
The winners are:
Blue Ridge Parkway Destination Center Design Team – The new Destination Center features an innovative passive solar heating and cooling system, a green roof to assist with cooling, and day-lighting to minimize the use of electrical lights. The park hopes to lower energy costs by forty percent in the first year.
Yosemite National Park Curry Village Design Team – The plan for the new employee housing complex for Curry Village utilizes sustainable designs for the site, building, mechanical systems, lighting, and water efficiency. The complex will provide housing for the park’s concessioner to replace facilities that were destroyed in the 1997 flood.
Delaware North Companies Parks and Resorts, Yellowstone and Yosemite National Parks – Delaware North, through its recycling efforts in Yellowstone and Yosemite, diverted approximately 1,589 tons of materials from the solid waste stream in 2007. Guided by GreenPath®, their Environmental Management System (EMS), Delaware North trains more than 2,400 seasonal employee-associates each year about how to participate in the company’s recycling efforts.
Xanterra Parks & Resorts, Death Valley National Park – Xanterra planned and constructed a one-megawatt solar photovoltaic renewable energy system in Death Valley National Park. The system will generate more than one-third of the electricity needed for Xanterra’s operations and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 30 percent.
This year’s honorable mention winners were the transit implementation team from Glacier National Park, the sustainability program from Glacier Bay National Park and Preserve, the recycling and green purchasing program from Big Bend Resorts, LLC (at Big Bend National Park), and the food kiosk construction project from Guest Services, Inc. (at National Mall and Memorial Parks).
Valere Tjolle
