Sustainability

Climate Friendly Parks Logo

NPS Image

Big Cypress National Preserve is a Climate Friendly Park committed to placing climate friendly behavior at the forefront of planning and operations. The Preserve organizes and implements sustainable strategies in the park. These include:

• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• Fostering the sustainable use of resources
• Reducing waste
• Purchasing environmentally friendly products
• Reusing and recycling all materials where practicable in park operations

 

A Big Cypress Waterbottle

Florida National Parks Association

Make a Climate Friendly Visit to Big Cypress National Preserve!

Follow these easy tips to create a more sustainable park adventure.

• Recycling made easy
  You can recycle most glass, aluminum and plastic in the park's commingled recycling bins. Follow the bin instructions and avoid putting trash into them. The park cannot recycle frozen food boxes, paper coffee cups or plastic bags.
  
• Hydrate the eco-friendly way
  Save cash and the environment by using a durable, reusable water bottle and shopping bags instead of disposable bottles and plastic bags. Each are for sale at the visitor center bookstores.
  
• Make a travel plan
  Carpool and combine short trips to reduce vehicle miles traveled.
  
• Take your time
  Keep your vehicle tires properly inflated and observe speed limits. Your fuel economy generally drops above 50 mph so it also costs you more.
  
• Turn off that engine
  Idling your car for more than 30 seconds uses more fuel than restarting the engine. Turn off your engine when stopped to save gas and cut down on air pollution from your vehicle's exhaust emissions.

Do your part for the parks from home!

It's amazing how much impact one small action can make when it's performed by many people. Here are some ideas to make a difference in your home and community.

• Buy local products that are sourced and manufactured in environmentally friendly ways to influence good economic practices.
• Reduce, reuse and recycle your products and waste.
• Drive less by carpooling or using public transportation.
• Challenge yourself to reduce your energy consumption by 10 percent this year.
• Talk to your family and friends about what you've learned. When you take action, you inspire others to do the same!

For more tips to creating a more sustainable world, visit the National Park Service Sustainability and Climate Change website.

 

Recycle Symbol

Public Domain

Working for a Cleaner Future

The Preserve is reducing costs, increasing its sustainability and doing its part to lessen the impacts of pollution and climate change can have on park resources. Read more about sustainable park efforts below:

Alternative Energy Sources
Big Cypress strives to make facilities more energy efficient, reduce the use of fossil fuels for all infrastructure systems, and use renewable energy, where possible. A prime example of this is the Nathaniel P. Reed Visitor Center, which opened in 2010. If you step behind the building, you will notice a large array of solar panels. Installed in 2011, these photovoltaic panels now provide 80 percent of the power for the building. The facility was designed with energy conservation in mind, making maximum use of renewable resources. Harnessing the power of Earth’s closest star is a natural fit for a National Park Service unit in the "Sunshine State."

Constructing, remodeling, and updating the preserve's buildings present opportunities for improving energy conservation. National Park Service staff is installing new Energy Star windows that block UV-Rays, improving insulation, and adding weather stripping to doors. New efficient heating and lighting systems with easy-to-control switches and thermostats reduces energy use!

Waste Reduction
Keeping waste out of the landfill starts with recycling. Big Cypress keeps 64 percent of its trash out of the landfill, which is well above the goal of 50 percent set by the National Park Service. Everything from mixed paper to batteries is recycled from headquarters and homes in Big Cypress. Glass bottles and cans are recycled throughout the Preserve.

We also recycle much of the scrap metal that comes from a variety of sources including demolition projects. Instead of knocking down a building and sending it to the landfill, it’s taken apart piece by piece and the materials such as cement, copper, and glass are recycled. In one year, the Preserve recycled more than 100,000 pounds of scrap metal!

Environmental Purchasing
The park minimizes waste by purchasing environmentally-preferred items, including items with minimal packaging, biodegradable or recyclable materials. Employees use office paper with 30 percent post-consumer recycled content and paper towels made of 100 percent recycled paper.

Big Cypress has four very popular boardwalks throughout the preserve that receive a lot of use (and abuse).To increase longevity, reduce pollutants and the amount of new wood products used, the preserve has been replacing wooden boards with recycled plastic!