As stewards of the environment many AZA-accredited facilties are ‘greening up’ by employing innovative sustainable practices in their operations
Green Teams A Green Scientific Advisory Group – com- prised of employees of AZA-accredited facilities – was formed to “identify ways to minimise negative environmental impacts by reducing consumption of both natural and manufactured resources, reducing production of hazardous wastes, develop- ing systems and programs for re-use of materials, and by recycling materials that cannot be reused”. AZA encourages each facility to
assemble a ‘green team’ consisting of sustainability-minded employees from all departments and management levels, who craft a mission statement for the present and a vision statement for the future. When quantifiable, economically feasible opportunities for improvement have been identified and prioritized, the green team then works to develop a sustainability plan that outlines each item’s team, timeline and budget. As a living document, it is recommended that this plan is evaluated and adjusted at least annually.
Energy Management Despite its reputation as a drizzly and cloudy metropolis, there are plenty of solar-powered systems in Seattle, USA. Capitalising on funding from the local public electrical power utility and the City of Seattle, Seattle Aquarium purchased 247 solar panels to help reduce utility costs and cut its carbon footprint by more than 20 per cent. “The solar project provided a great opportunity for visitor and community
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engagement,” wrote Mark Plunkett, the aquarium’s conservation manager. “We teamed with City Light on a ‘Conservation News’ billing insert to encourage customer participation in community solar. As a result, all 1,850 available units sold out to almost 200 customers in six weeks, generating capital for a future project.” The Toledo Zoo in Ohio is also bene-
fiting from solar power after purchasing power collected from 28,170 panels at a local brownfield site. This solar array is large enough to provide 30 per cent of the zoo’s energy needs and reduce CO2 output by 75 metric tonnes each year. Community investment was a cornerstone of this project as much of the technology and infrastructure utilized was developed by local companies.
Water Management To meet its goal of reducing the pull of new water by 50 per cent by 2018 from a 2007 baseline, John G. Shedd Aquarium in Chicago relies on active monitoring, cre- ative thinking and sustainable leadership. An external audit identified early areas
for improvement, and set the course for extensive internal reviews of infrastruc- ture and operations to determine where major changes and slight adjustments would reduce water usage. From fixing leaks and replacing aging plumbing fixtures to upgrading the chiller plant and replumbing habitats to recycle water, Shedd achieved a 49 per cent reduction by the end of 2014. The final one per cent
will primarily rely on improvements in daily operational behaviours, such as food service and animal care practices.
Dining and Catering In May 2012, the Komodo Café at Akron Zoo in Ohio became the seventh establishment in the USA to receive a four-star rating by the Green Restaurant Association (GRA), making it one of the most environmentally friendly dining places in the country. Points were awarded for the LEED-certified café’s extensive composting programme, numer- ous vegetarian and vegan menu items, geothermal heating and cooling system, use of green cleaning products and other facets of operation. Since the café’s certification, seven more AZA-accredited facilities have this accolade for one or more of their dining establishments.
■■About the author: Jim Maddy is president and CEO of AZA and a nationally recognised leader in conservation pol- icy and advocacy. Under his leadership, Jim has grown AZA’s membership and budget; implemented a successful plan to improve association member services; and raised the posi- tive profile of AZA-accredited zoos and aquariums as drivers of tourism and eco- nomic f; as leaders in animal care and welfare; and as key players in the conserva- tion of wildlife and wild places.
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