Going Green

The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations.The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world. By partnering with the Department of Energy, Nicodemus National Historic Site is able to showcase the benefits of employing/utilizing alternative fuels and vehicles and set the future standard for parks across the System.

Nicodemus National Historic Site Environmental Management System Plan

• Comply with all applicable Federal, State and local environmental laws, regulations, executive orders, and Department of the Interior environmental policies.
• Seek opportunities to promote environmental compliance and stewardship to visitors and neighboring communities in which we serve.
• Provide environmental management system awareness, hazardous communication and environmental purchasing training opportunities for staff.
• Assign clear responsibility for environmental management activities and hold them accountable for their environmental performance, recognizing superior effort when it is demonstrated.
• Monitor our environmental compliance performance regularly at both operational and organizational levels.

To implement and follow through with this strategy, it has been broken down into 3 areas of interest: recycling, vehicles, and lawn care.

 

 

A battery recycling box has also been placed in a central location in the office to recycle any batteries and portable electronic devices.

 

Battery Recycling box

NPS: Photo

 

Lawn Care:

The sustainable turf management plan for the lawn area surrounding the Visitor Center and the Roadside Park will include planting a mixture of native buffalo grass and cool season grasses.The fertilizer will be a liquid compost of fish byproducts and seaweeds, as mandated by the Beyond Pesticides Midwest Region Turf Stewardship Program.

The weed eaters, chain saw, and leaf blower are all battery powered.

 

Riding lawn mower

NPS: Photo

 

Vehicles:

As of the summer of 2014, every car, truck, mower and piece of lawn equipment at Nicodemus National Historic Site is powered by alternative fuels –propane, battery, or by hybrid-electric drive systems. The car is a fuel-efficient Hyundai Sonata sedan hybrid, and the Ford F-250 Super Duty truck is propane. The commercial lawnmower is also propane.

These technologies enable Nicodemus NHS to make a big difference by eliminating tons of greenhouse gas emissions each year, thereby reducing the park's carbon foot print. The site is now 100% green in so far as its fleet and grounds care equipment.

 

Vehicles/Equipment

NPS: Photo

 

Some Additional Green-Friendly Practices:

• Printer toner cartridges are recycled.
• All paper products purchased by the park are made of recycled material. This includes toilet tissue, paper towels, and office paper supplies.
• Before any purchases are made for building supplies, green purchasing is researched and used where possible.
• Computers and office equipment are Energy Star compliant.
• Excess park property is donated to another park or recycled when possible.
• A water filter has been added in the administration office to encourage the use of refillable water bottles.
• Energy efficiency light bulbs such as compact fluorescent light or light–emitting diodes (LED) are used throughout the administration offices.
• All floors, bathrooms, and surfaces are cleaned using Green Works Natural brand products.
• Encourage employees to carpool