In 2007, the nonprofit Yellowstone Park Foundation contracted with Ecos, on behalf of Yellowstone National Park, to create an Environmental Action Plan for Park operations. The Plan helped the Park establish baseline figures on resource consumption and develop realistic goals to reduce operational impacts on climate change and thus improve financial savings. The Plan also helps the Park expand its role as a leader in environmental stewardship practices and serve as a model for ensuring the protection of our national parks.
Specifically, the Action Plan identified strategies for energy and water management, renewable energy opportunities, waste management, transportation, and green purchasing. Ecos conducted a greenhouse gas emissions inventory and formulated recommendations for advancing climate protection.
Now, in 2009, the Yellowstone Park Foundation is continuing to build upon its decade-long effort in “greening” its operations by establishing the Yellowstone Environmental Stewardship (YES!) Initiative. Based on recommendations that Ecos provided in the Action Plan completed in 2007, The Park has requested that the Foundation secure $5 million in private support for 27 of the recommended projects with significant potential impact and return on investment.
With the help of YES! Initiative projects, the Park aims to achieve the following by the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service in 2016:
- Reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 30%
- Reduce electricity consumption by 15%
- Reduce fossil fuel consumption by 18%
- Reduce water consumption by 15%
- Divert 100% of solid waste from landfills
