June 2015 - Parks & Recreation - 39

15 percent hydroelectric, 10 percent
non-hydroelectric renewables, 7 percent coal and 1 percent oil. Non-hydroelectric renewable energy sources
can include solar, wind and geothermal. These sources are sustainable, as
they aren't limited resources (at least
in terms of the next few billion years).
Nationally, 67 percent of electricity is
made from fossil-based fuels like coal,
and natural gas.
How much energy or water is being used at your facilities? Start saving resources - including money
- by using the EPA's Energy Star
Portfolio Manager (http://1.usa.
gov/1PKM2hL) to establish a baseline for resources you've used in the
past. Data on consumption, cost information and operational use can
be entered for each building your
agency would like to evaluate. You
can also compare scores for similarly sized structures. The Portfolio
Manager reporting will display your
current building performance level in
comparison to buildings across the
country, but won't provide specifics
as to why your building may score
well or poorly. It will allow you to
compare any two 12-month periods
to measure trends over time. By using this tool, you will also be able to
evaluate savings realized from energy-conserving projects you might implement as part of your sustainability
plan. To get started, you'll just need
copies of your energy bills on hand
and some information about the specific building you'd like to analyze.
Add a Green Team
Consider establishing a green team at
your agency. Team members should
represent various departments and
job functions in an effort to capture
ideas and implement projects that
will help you achieve your environ

Luckily, there are a lot
of tools out there to
help you evaluate your
agency's operations from
a green perspective.
mentally focused goals. The green
team will help initiate more collaboration within your organization as
well as create an environment that
supports education and innovation.
Green teams can identify areas
where quick changes could be made
that could have a positive impact on
your bottom line, such as:
* Energy Conservation (commercial buildings):
* Lighting: Responsible for almost 35 percent of the electricity used. Save energy by employing occupancy sensors, upgrade
from T12 fluorescent lamps to
T8 systems with electronic ballasts, or switch to LEDs.
* HVAC: Systems are typically responsible for more than 52 percent
of annual energy consumption.
Adding or making adjustments
to programmable thermostats is
a great first step in optimizing an
existing system. Consider installing a demand-controlled ventilation system to save up to $1 per
square foot per year.
* Water Conservation:
* Faucets: Install touchless or
self-closing faucets. Add new
faucet aerators to reduce water
use by up to 60 percent.
* Toilets: Install high-efficiency
toilets (HET) or waterless or noflush urinals.
* Landscaping:
Water-efficient
landscaping can reduce the need

for fertilizers and pesticides, as
well as decrease maintenance
requirements. Develop a landscape plan and use native plants
where possible, grouping them
based on water needs. Plant
turfgrass in areas only where
it serves a practical function.
Recycle fallen trees into medium-sized wood chips that
can be used in perennial beds,
around the drip line of trees and
as pathway material between
raised planting beds in a community garden. Organic mulch
helps reduce evaporation and
has the added benefit of improving the condition of the underlying soil as it decomposes.
Network and Learn From Peers
Developing a sustainability plan
doesn't have to occur in a vacuum.
Reach out to other public agencies,
private business and environmental
groups nearby and around the country to glean best practices when it
comes to sustainability. Learn from
their experience. Use other resources
like the Open Forum in NRPA Connect (www.nrpaconnect.org/home)
to bounce ideas off your peers in the
park and rec field.
Staff tasked with managing an
agency's conservation efforts would
also do well to attend NRPA's 2015
Annual Conference, held September 15-17 in Las Vegas, Nevada,
to explore sessions geared toward
greening your agency. Visit www.
nrpa.org/Conference2015 for current sustainability and conservation-based education offerings, and
check back often as new courses are
added to the schedule.
James Politte is NRPA's Webmaster
(jpolitte@nrpa.org).

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Parks & Recreation

June 2015 - Parks & Recreation

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