The Old Faithful Visitor Education Center was built to minimize its impact on the natural surroundings and was the first National Park Service visitor center to achieve LEED Gold certification with energy-efficient design and eco-friendly materials.
NPS/Frank
Energy drives the machinery of our lives. From heating our homes and lighting our hospitals, to washing our clothes, cooking our food, and transporting our families, we rely on energy for much of our modern lifestyle. That energy largely (87%) comes from the combustion of non-renewable fossil fuels. This process releases greenhouse gasses into Earth’s atmosphere and is the primary contributor to global warming and global climate change.
Yellowstone National Park is the largest consumer of energy in the National Park Service, with many villages and a vast and varied assortment of aging buildings, many of which are significant to Historic Districts and National Historic Landmarks. Most buildings need energy efficiency improvements including updates to old and inefficient heating systems. Yellowstone strives to inspire energy conscious behaviors, make facilities more energy efficient, reduce the use of fossil fuels for all infrastructure systems, and assess opportunities for renewable energy. Facilities in Yellowstone are managed by the National Park Service as well as by our concessioners and partners.
Electricity
Electricity is used for lighting, appliances, computers, tools and some heating and cooling. Improving the efficiency of these applications is the most productive step we can take toward energy conservation goals.
Most of Yellowstone’s electricity is provided by Northwestern Energy. Their portfolio now boasts 54% renewable energy (approximately 36% hydro, 18% wind and less than 1% solar).
Propane, Fuel Oil
Most of Yellowstone’s building heating and cooling systems rely on fuel, either diesel (fuel oil) or propane. Other common users of fuel for direct heat and power are water heaters, kitchen appliances and generators. Renovating Yellowstone’s buildings presents opportunities for reducing fuel use. Heating systems are being updated where possible and efforts are being made throughout the park to improve building envelopes.
Natural Gas
Natural gas is only used in one facility, located in West Yellowstone.
2018 Sustainability Report on Energy
Yellowstone National Park is the largest consumer of energy in the National Park Service.
Most of Yellowstone’s electricity is provided by Northwestern Energy. Their portfolio now boasts 56% renewable energy (approximately 37% hydro, 18% wind and less than 1% solar).
Electricity is used for lighting, appliances, computers, tools and some heating and cooling. Improving the efficiency of these applications is the most productive step we can take toward energy conservation goals.
Most of Yellowstone’s building heating and cooling systems rely on fuel, either diesel (fuel oil) or propane. Other common users of fuel for direct heat and power are water heaters, kitchen appliances and generators. Renovating Yellowstone’s buildings presents opportunities for reducing fuel use. Heating systems are being updated where possible and efforts are being made throughout the park to improve building envelopes.
2018 Electricity Use in kWh
User
2003*
(Baseline Year)
2016
2017
2018
2018 % Change
from Baseline
NPS
7,951,100
10,413,767
12,538,774
11,082,611
+39.4%
Xanterra
16,618,069
17,513,980
18,191,147
19,367,490
+16.5%
Delaware North
2,198,855
1,639,899
1,161,183
1,575,629
-28.3
YPSS
--
266,189
407,937
290,096
--
Medcor
--
70,100
123,335
136,835
--
2018 Totals
26,768,024
29,903,935
32,422,376
32,025,730
--
2018 Propane Use in Gallons
User
2003*
(Baseline Year)
2016
2017
2018
2018 % Change
from Baseline
NPS
208,531
260,921
270,294
282,282
+35.4%
Xanterra
352,601
575,211
703,907
792,463
+124.7%
Delaware North
70,534
67,293
51,003
72,712
+3.1%
YPSS
--
5,504
8,558
6,436
--
Medcor
--
2,120
9,300
12,300
--
2018 Totals
631,666
911,049
1,043,062
1,147,457
--
2018 Fuel Oil Use in Gallons
User
2003*
(Baseline Year)
2016
2017
2018
2018 % Change
from Baseline
NPS
135,000
105,378
119,757
118,856
-12.0%
Xanterra
569,316
432,332
330,005
357,895
-37.1%
Delaware North
--
0
0
0
--
YPSS
--
0
0
0
--
Medcor
--
1,560
1,380
0
--
2018 Totals
704,316
539,270
451,142
476,751
--
2018 Natural Gas Use in Hundreds of Cubic Feet
User
2003*
(Baseline Year)
2016
2017
2018
2018 % Change
from Baseline
NPS - West
10,910
11,080
10,879
10,537
-3.4%
* - 2003 totals by company do not match those from the 2016 sustainability report. Data reporting continues to improve in accuracy and consistency, but for 2003 different sources show slight different numbers. Data here reflects numbers that will be used going forward for consistency.
