NPS photo
This infrared image identifies areas of heat loss from the park headquarters building so that measures can be taken to reduce energy consumption.
Golden Gate is taking steps along with other parks in the Pacific West Region to achieve carbon neutral park operations by 2016, the centennial of the National Park Service.
A carbon neutral park would generate no greenhouse gas emissions from its own operations, those of its partners and concessionaires, and eventually its visitors. Achieving this goal will require a major rethinking of park operations, as well as the advancement of new technologies.
The first step in becoming a carbon neutral park is to conduct a carbon emissions audit, in order to understand our greenhouse gas sources and how they can be reduced and eliminated. The park has completed this audit as part of becoming a Climate Friendly Park.
With this information, Golden Gate is now taking the first big step, which is energy efficiency and conservation. Park buildings are being upgraded with energy-efficient lighting and heating technologies. Insulation and weather-stripping will retain heat in the many historic buildings. The park's vehicle fleet will be upgraded with fuel-efficient and electric vehicles.
The next step will be the development of clean renewable energy within the park. This will provide "green" electrons to the park's electrical grid, and further reduce its carbon footprint. The first solar panels were installed at the Cavallo Point Lodge at Fort Baker, as part of the LEED Gold certified project. Alcatraz Island and the park headquarters at Fort Mason now have solar photovoltaic systems in place.
The final step in becoming a carbon neutral park will be the purchase of "green" electricity from renewable energy projects throughout the state. All of Golden Gate's buildings in Marin County already use 100 percent renewable energy provided by Marin Clean Energy.
Other contributors to our carbon footprint such as trash sent to the landfill must also be drastically reduced in order to be carbon neutral.
