Grand Canyon National Park Sustainability Analysis

2. Grand Canyon National Park Sustainability Analysis Kristen Fauria Sanjuana Rico Kevin Werbylo Dr. Wilbert Odem, PhD, PE Study conducted Summer –Fall 2008

3. Project Description Work with GCNP to develop and carry out an environmental sustainability audit From audit, develop recommendations to improve park sustainability

4. Methods Sustainability Auditing is NEW Generate Audit Protocol Interviews Observations Data Compilation Report Write-Up

5. Focus Areas Waste Water Visitor Outreach Energy Procurement Green Building

6. Waste • Current Practices • Green waste, pallets and lumber currently being burned or made into wood chips • Unicore a company out of Tucson picks up computer waste • $50 boxes are filled for battery recycling, the shipping is included • Oil filter crusher for recycling filter as scrap metal

7. Waste • Current Procedures cont • Safety Clean recycles oil used at the park • Park vehicles use recycled oil • Basically no composting done although park produces good composting materials

8. Waste • Current Procedures cont • Waste hauling • About 16,541 tons of trash hauled in 2007 • At $87 per ton, about $1,439,067 was spent in 2007 • Recycling • 789 tons plus 130 tons of scrap metal recycled in 2007 • Bins on the rim not having proper labeling such as what is recyclable and use of different languages • No printer ink and toner refilling program

9. Waste Recommendations • Composting • Diverts waste to landfill reducing hauling costs • Abundant sources of manure, food waste and wood chips for good composting possibilities • Start a printer ink and toner refilling program • Look into propane cylinder crusher, similar to oil filter crusher • Use local companies where possible

10. Facilities There was not enough time to report all the details of each building in the park Employee housing contain old toilets, old sink fixtures, single paned windows and insulation Historic buildings not able to be altered Some buildings not improved because “aesthetic” purposes

11. New Facility Recommendations • Five main areas to consider • the site on which the building is going to be built • the materials that will be used in the construction • energy that will be used in the building • water that will be used in the building • the indoor air quality of the building

12. Park-wide Water: The Good • Estimated 75% of toilets and urinals are low flow • Park WWTP produces class A reclaimed water • Some reclaimed water used around park

13. Park-wide Water: The Bad • 25% of toilets are still multi-gallons per flush • Very limited use of: • Waterless urinals • Reclaimed water • Phantom Ranch (specifically showers) • No routine inspection of distribution lines for leaks

14. Xanterra Water Reclaimed water used to irrigate “rim lawns” Looking into other uses for reclaimed/grey water Use Zurn urinal (1/8 gpf) and low flow toilets

15. Water Recommendations • Make 100% of toilets/urinals at least low flow • Begin implementation of waterless urinals; ID low maintenance versions • Install low flow adaptors on all faucets • Check water system regularly for malfunctions/leaks • Develop more uses for treated wastewater • Improve shower situation at Phantom Ranch • Improve custodial practices, e.g. full loads of dishwashers and clothes washers

16. Park-wide Visitor Outreach: The Good Recycling opportunities abundant at most locations Signage indicating wastewater reuse at Canyon View Information Center Recycle ad in Visitor’s Guide “Grand Canyon Proudly Recycles” sign

17. Park-wide Visitor Outreach: The Bad • Nothing on sustainability on park webpage • Signs around park are often old and hard to read; some signs conflicting • Not many signs encouraging recycling • Recycle ad in Visitor’s Guide is very small • Visitor recycle practices are questionable • No outreach discouraging littering at rim

18. Visitor Outreach Recommendations Develop “sustainability” webpage Improve existing and create new signage Provide a “sustainability” pamphlet for visitors Recycle outreach in Visitor’s Guide needs to be expanded Express WHY it is important to recycle In general: Make sustainability practices obvious to visitors

19. Energy usage at Grand Canyon National Park 2007 Energy Consumption Data Electriciy: 12, 308,477 KWH Fuel Oil: 37, 756 Gallons Natural Gas: 7, 969, 900 Cubic Feet Auto Gasoline: 19, 652.9 Gallons Diesel: 38, 241.7 Gallons Total Cost: 1,806,060

20. Trends in Energy Consumption Source: Annual GCNP energy reports

21. Transportation Compressed Natural Gas Buses Employee owned and operated Vehicles Xanterra Bus Fleet Green way Systems

22. Energy Recommendations Track energy use in the future and conduct a green house gas emissions estimate Convert Xanterra fleet to CNG or other alternative means Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent and LED bulbs Purchase and lease hybrid and other fuel efficient vehicles Encourage employees and visitors to use bicycles and buses to get around the park.

23. Procurement According to the National Environmental Policy Act (1969), government agencies “are required to systematically assess the environmental impacts of their proposed actions and consider alternative ways of accomplishing their missions in ways which are less damaging to the environment” (GSA Advantage, 2008).

24. Current Procurement Procedures Purchases are made separately within each department Employees can make purchases for values up to $3000 for items and up to $2500 for services Great employee control over what is purchased and used at Grand Canyon Inconsistent use of Green materials

25. Procurement Recommendations Create a park-wide purchasing system Create a Green Product Warehouse Create a park-wide inventory system Increase employee accountability Create an intra-net website for purchasing

26. Ideas for future Projects Composting Implementation Project GHG Emissions Quantitative Study Sustainability Education Outreach Program Waterless Urinal Implementation Project Make older buildings more sustainable