August 2013 - Parks & Recreation - 36

C O N S E R VAT I O N

Paul Gilbert drives an electric
cart at an NVRPA park.

More than Birds and Bunnies
The role of parks and recreation in global climate change
By Paul Gilbert

P

arks have always had a role in nature education. They are where the public
goes to experience and learn about the natural world. Many agencies have
nature centers, guided hikes, paddling trips, nature-focused summer camps
and more. But most of those programs and facilities are focused on local flora and
fauna (birds and bunnies). There will always be some demand for this. However,
if parks and recreation is to remain relevant and important in our communities,
we need to address the important issues of today. And, in the environmental field,
nothing is bigger than global climate change. From extreme weather events to rising
sea levels to reduced crop yields, the effects of climate change are front-page news.
These planet-altering impacts are
caused by greenhouse gases like carbon pollution heating our atmosphere.
It may all seem too global to address
on a local level, but it is not - and
park agencies can be local leaders in
promoting sustainability and educating people about what they can do.
Reducing Your Footprint
In 2005, the Northern Virginia Regional

34

Parks & Recreation

Park Authority adopted energy conservation plans for each park. At the same
time, we started tracking our carbon
footprint. Using the accounting system,
instead of just recording utility costs, we
also recorded units of consumption for
all fuels so we could calculate our carbon footprint. Every year, the facility
that has the greatest reduction in energy
consumption is recognized and awarded at an all-staff meeting.

| AU G U S T 2 0 1 3 | W W W. N R PA . O R G

Results: While carbon emissions
in 2012 were virtually the same as
in 2005, our park system has grown
dramatically from 19 to 25 parks and
from $10 to 16 million in enterprise
revenues. With enterprise revenues as
a good measure of activity, the Northern Virginia Regional Park Authority
has been able to go from 350 tons of
carbon per $1 million of enterprise
revenue to just 235 tons. That indicates a great increase in efficiency!
How it was achieved: While many
methods were used, the real answer
to how it was achieved is the same answer to how anything is achieved...
focus. In all aspects of life, you will
go where you place your focus. In
this case, focus has meant tracking
results, creating plans and making
many small decisions that collective-



August 2013 - Parks & Recreation

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