April 2019 - Parks & Recreation - 23

rector of education and the Frick
Environmental Center for the Pittsburgh Parks Conservancy. " We
want people to feel inspired that
solutions do exist and that they can
be part of the solution to complex
environmental issues. "
The sustainability grant funded
a portion of the solar array, which
assisted the facility in meeting
the Living Building Challenge
and LEED Platinum standard
for energy efficiency. Last year,
solar panels produced 122 percent of the facility's power, and a
rain capture system collected 235
percent of the facility's water. In
2018, the Environmental Center
saw a cost savings of more than
$11,000 on energy usage alone
and was able to sell surplus energy back to the local electric utility. These sustainability features
complement the ecological landscape of the park while preserving its historical integrity.
Park District of Oak Park
(pdop.org)
Oak Park Conservatory is one of
three historical sites in Oak Park,
located near Chicago, Illinois.
It features three indoor rooms
showcasing Mediterranean, tropical and desert flora and fauna,
along with Illinois' native ecosystems in the outdoor gardens.
It has been awarded $100,000 in
Sun Club funding.
" Sustainability is one of the Park
District's values, so we constantly
look at how we can advocate for
it, " says Jan Arnold, executive director for the Conservatory. " It's
imperative to identify projects that
will have the largest impact for
helping Mother Earth. "
Solar panels, water-harvesting

tanks, compositing sites and beehives will be added to the Conservatory as a result of Sun Club
funding. Each eco-improvement
plays a significant role in reducing the organization's carbon
footprint.
" Our beehives will be used for
honey production, but also as an
educational component, " Arnold
adds. " It's important for visitors to
learn about the material role bees
play in our ecosystem and how we
all need to work to protect them. "
Solar panels will help the Conservatory save more than $2,000 a
year in electricity costs, offsetting
its electrical demand by 16 percent. The 5,000-gallon cistern will
collect 80,000 gallons of water a
year for watering needs, helping
conserve resources while educating visitors. Signage depicting how
the tanks function will help visitors
learn about water-conservation
techniques that lessen the impact
on our environment.
Montgomery Parks Foundation
(montgomeryparksfoundation.org)
Through fundraising support,
Montgomery Parks Foundation
strengthens the park system in
Montgomery County, Maryland.
And with a $96,000 grant from
Sun Club, it will fund two of the
seven requirements for a Sustainable Education Every Day
(SEED) classroom located in
Black Hill Regional Park (Boyds,
Maryland). A SEED classroom is
self-sustaining and transportable
and puts hands-on sustainability
education in the forefront, focusing on responsible construction of
school buildings and facilities.
Sun Club contributions are
funding the net-zero energy and

Need Funding and Access to
Sustainability Experts?
Sun Club accepts grant applications year-round at
gmesunclub.org and selects recipients on a quarterly
basis. Nonprofit organizations can apply for funding
for projects that support clean transportation,
sustainable agriculture, energy efficiency, renewable
energy, resource conservation, and education and
awareness. Nonprofits are encouraged to apply
for grants if community programs operate in the
following states:
* New York
* Illinois
* Pennsylvania
* Maryland
* Texas
* Massachusetts
* New Jersey

water requirements for the classroom. Inverters, LED light fixtures, sensors, and other controls
and equipment are needed to ensure a net-zero electricity designation. And, to achieve a net-zero
water status, the same grant will
fund materials and equipment
needed for a composting toilet, a
rainwater metering/filtration system and lab sink stations.

Bring Sustainability
Solutions to Your
Community
Sun Club is continually looking for partners to help cultivate
long-term sustainability and environmental stewardship among
communities. If your park system or recreational department
is interested in implementing
sustainability best practices, Sun
Club would like to hear from you.
Through funding support to local
nonprofits, Sun Club is working
to change the way people impact
the planet.
Stacy Mehlhoff is the Executive Director for Sun
Club (stacy.mehlhoff@greenmountain.com).

W W W. PA R K S A N D R E C R E AT I O N . O R G | A P R I L 2 0 1 9 |

Parks & Recreation

April 2019 - Parks & Recreation

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of April 2019 - Parks & Recreation