Funworld September 2009

Parks and attractions are built on creative ideas, so what innovations can we expect now that they are turning their attention to environmental issues?

by Juliana Gilling

THE WALT DISNEY COMPANY FOLLOWED UP ITS AMBITIOUS SERIES OF ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS, announced in March, by joining a coalition of industry and conservation leaders this summer in an agreement to protect the world’s tropical forests. Under its terms, companies would be eligible to receive credit for reducing climate pollution by financing forestry conservation. In addition, 5 percent of the value of new greenhouse gas emission permits would be dedicated to conservation (http://adpartners.org/news_unity.html).

Setting the pace for other parks and attractions worldwide, Disney’s long-term targets—outlined in a new corporate responsibility report (www.disney.com/crreport)—include zero waste and zero greenhouse gas emissions from electricity consumption.

According to Disney president and CEO Robert Iger, these enhanced corporate responsibility efforts “make our brands and products more attractive, strengthen our bonds with consumers, make the company a more desirable place to work, and build goodwill in the communities we serve.” All of which “contributes to shareholder value,” he says.

Disney’s priorities chime with growing environmental concerns at government level. United States President Barack Obama has pledged to invest in alternative and renewable energy sources, implement a program to cut greenhouse gas emissions, and focus on energy independence. The U.S. stimulus plan (American Recovery and Reinvestment Act) contains a package of energy efficiency measures and incentives in the hope of saving money, jobs, and the environment.

What Parks Are Doing
Parks and attractions will have to shape up in this eco-minded world. Many companies are already planning improvements based on the voluntary U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environment Design (LEED) standards. LEED encourages conscientious building design, with an emphasis on recycling, reusing resources, and reducing waste (for more information, see the March 2008 issue of FUNWORLD or visit www.usgbc.org).

The World of Coca-Cola (WOCC) attraction, which opened in Atlanta in 2007, was the first building in The Coca-Cola Company system to achieve LEED certification. “It was the right thing to do for many reasons,” says WOCC marketing manager Jacquie Wansley. “Every aspect of the WOCC’s design, construction, and operation was carefully planned to reflect The Coca-Cola Company’s commitment to environmental and energy issues.” There are competitive advantages, too: “Bringing energy efficient elements to an operation can reap financial benefits,” says Wansley.

Around 20 percent of construction materials for the WOCC are recycled or “green,” including eco-friendly bamboo and recycled rubber flooring. Recycled PET (the key ingredient in plastic bottles) is used in the property’s carpeting. Compostable cornstarch cups are offered in the “Taste It” room.

The WOCC building is 30 percent more energy efficient than the Georgia state energy code requires and employs faucets and waterless urinals to reduce water consumption. The attraction’s landscaping features include light-colored paving, vegetation, and a reflective roof to reduce the urban “heat island effect.” Inside, low-emission paints, adhesives, sealants, and carpets preserve air quality.

Waterpark Solutions
Waterpark operator Kalahari Resorts has won recognition for its energy efficient and clean-air operations. It remains “committed to adding measures that will save energy and protect our environment,” says President and Owner Todd Nelson. A recent investment is the AquaRecycle system, a chemical-free recycling and filtration process that will allow Kalahari to reuse 70 percent of its laundry water. The system will conserve 26 million gallons of drinking water a year, prevent the equivalent amount of waste from returning to the environment, cut greenhouse gas emissions, and reduce water, sewage, and energy costs.

Kalahari Resorts’ other green initiatives include a solar hot water system at Wisconsin Dells and a Texlon transparent roof in Sandusky, allowing natural light in to help heat the facility. Across all of Kalahari’s properties there are low-flow showerheads, fluorescent lights, LED exit signs, and giant fans that push the warm air sitting at ceiling level to a lower level, thereby saving energy and money.

Proactive Measures in Europe
European parks are proving equally determined to meet new environmental challenges. “We see a great opportunity to be economically successful by including ecological aspects in our planning,” says Caroline Becker, head of public relations at Europa-Park in Germany. “This environmental commitment also improves the image of the park because guests are aware that Europa-Park cares for the environment and helps to protect it.”

Europa-Park has its own hydroelectric power station, which produces more than 8 percent of its annual electricity, as well as a solar power plant. In addition, the German park saves money by transforming braking energy from some of its attractions into electricity and feeding it back into the mains supply.

Heating pumps are also in operation: “The groundwater heat pump used in Europa-Park’s Colosseo hotel saves approximately 350 tons of CO2 every year,” says Becker. Energy-saving lamps and electric vehicles are used throughout the park, while a centralized water treatment system has cut water consumption in half and eliminated the need to use chlorine.

“With the growing importance of environmental protection, more and more ecological aspects are included in the approval procedures,” says Becker. “Already today, it is not possible to expand a theme park without sustainable systems for supply and disposal.” Europa-Park has a dedicated environmental officer who makes sure “green aspects are essential elements of each decision process,” she adds.

In February, Sweden’s Liseberg park became the proud owner of a new wind turbine situated on Ventosum park. In addition to supplying Liseberg with 5 percent of its electricity needs, the turbine purchase entitles the group to a larger wind power certificate. It means that from 2009 the park will run entirely on locally produced wind power.

“We’ve been working hard to reduce our energy use for a long time, and for the last few years we have only bought electricity on a green tariff. This active choice of energy source is the next step in a commitment to minimize the environmental impact of our business,” says Lars-Erik Hedin, Liseberg’s environmental manager.

Tivoli, in Denmark, is another park that runs on renewable energy. After working with Vestas to secure wind energy equal to its ride requirements, Tivoli has formed a new partnership with DONG Energy. The goal is to reduce Tivoli’s energy consumption and to ensure its energy needs are covered by CO2-neutral production facilities. “We’re working on three levels: saving electricity by using new technology, buying green electricity from a new windmill, and [backing] an annual campaign about green energy,” says Tivoli’s environmental coordinator, Jane Bonde.

Cost-savings and Increased Efficiency
Environmental initiatives can also pay dividends, as evidenced by Tivoli’s successful recycling system for takeaway beverages. “The first step was to introduce recyclable cups at our open-air Friday night concerts, but it used to take a lot of effort to clear the concert site of the cups that people had left behind,” says Bonde. “Now all guests pay DKK5 (about US$1) per cup, and they get that back when they return their cups in machines, which are placed throughout the gardens. This system means less staff hours spent on clearing up, and we don’t have to buy as many plastic cups as before.”

For parks like Tivoli, improving environmental performance is another way of embracing efficiency. It makes commercial sense for parks to stay ahead of environmental trends as policy makers set their sights on change, believes Andreas Veilstrup Andersen, executive director at IAAPA Europe.

“The EU is playing a larger and larger role, from waste directives to noise,” says Andersen. “Right now, the legislation is general in scope, and attractions are only a small part of a very large picture. But if something comes up that directly impacts the industry we will have to react. We need to start a dialogue, as an industry, about how we can do this better, how we can share best practices and be inspired by each other.”

Juliana Gilling is a specialist attractions journalist. E-mail: julianagilling@gmail.com.