SERVICEWIDE LAWS AND POLICIES - Sustainable Design and Development
| Sustainability can be described as the result achieved by doing things in ways that do not compromise the environment or its capacity to provide for present and future generations. Sustainable practices minimize the short- and long-term environmental impacts of development and other activities through resource conservation, recycling, waste minimization, and the use of energy efficient and ecologically responsible materials and techniques. | |
 |
Desired Condition: Facilities will be integrated into the park landscape and environs with sustainable designs and systems to minimize environmental impact. Development will not compete with or dominate park features, or interfere with natural processes, such as the seasonal migration of wildlife or hydrologic activity associated with wetlands. Any facility development, whether it be a new building, a renovation, or an adaptive re-use of an existing facility, should include improvements in energy efficiency and reduction in "greenhouse gas" emissions for both the building envelope and the mechanical systems that support the facility. Maximum energy efficiency should be achieved using solar thermal and photovoltaic applications, appropriate insulation and glazing strategies, energy-efficient lighting and appliances, and renewable energy technologies. Energy-efficient construction projects should be used as an educational opportunity for the visiting public. |
Source: |
|
| The NPS Guiding Principles of Sustainable Design (1993) directs NPS management philosophy. It provides a basis for achieving sustainability in facility planning and design, emphasizes the importance of biodiversity, and encourages responsible decisions. The guidebook articulates principles to be used in the design and management of tourist facilities that emphasize environmental sensitivity in construction, use of nontoxic materials, resource conservation, recycling, and integration of visitors with natural and cultural settings. Sustainability principles have been developed and are followed for interpretation, natural resources, cultural resources, site design, building design, energy management, water supply, waste prevention, and facility maintenance and operations. The Park Service also reduces energy costs, eliminates waste, and conserves energy resources by using energy-efficient and cost-effective technology. Energy efficiency is incorporated into the decision-making process during the design and acquisition of buildings, facilities, and transportation systems that emphasize the use of renewable energy sources. | |