The Environmental Protection Agency honored Hawaii Volcanoes National Park with its Federal Green Challenge Regional Overall Achievement award as part of its efforts to encourage federal departments to reduce their environmental footprints through sustainable practices. ADVERTISING The Environmental Protection Agency
The Environmental Protection Agency honored Hawaii Volcanoes National Park with its Federal Green Challenge Regional Overall Achievement award as part of its efforts to encourage federal departments to reduce their environmental footprints through sustainable practices.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is one of the most biologically diverse landscapes in the world. The park stretches from the summit of Mauna Loa at 13,677 feet down to sea level. It encompasses two of the world’s most active volcanoes, and attracts more than 1.6 million visitors a year.
“We applaud National Park Service staff for leading the way toward zero waste, and educating the millions of visitors to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s regional administrator for the Pacific Southwest. “This unique landscape deserves protection, and that starts with the commitment by the federal employees who work there.”
The park had top regional achievements in the Federal Green Challenge Waste and Purchasing target areas, increasing recycling by 167 percent to achieve an overall recycling rate of 76 percent, while decreasing copy paper purchases by 89 percent.
Not only does Hawaii Volcanoes National Park walk their talk behind the scenes, but park employees reach out to the community and visitors throughout the year through programs, exhibits and presentations on the values and importance of being climate friendly and sustainable.
The park actively works to reduce their environmental footprint in all six Federal Green Challenge target areas: energy, water, waste, electronics, purchasing and transportation.
HVNP is home to Hawaii’s largest public rainwater catchment system that stores 5.3 million gallons of water. The water is treated, filtered with cartridge and sand filters, and disinfected to supply water to 56 areas throughout the park.
Water bottle refilling stations, posters and the sale of refillable stainless steel water bottles educate the public to “Step Away from the Plastic.”
In addition, the park’s 4,896-square-foot Visitor Emergency Operations Center is powered by photovoltaic panels and is constructed from mostly recycled or reused materials.
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has made more great strides in conserving energy. Park rangers ride electrically powered “eco bikes” to their programs along the Kilauea summit, saving fossil fuels and parking spaces.
