Xanterra Parks & Resorts (click here)
Bringing carbon dioxide Savings to National and State Parks
Xanterra Parks & Resorts operates lodges, restaurants, and other concessions at 18 national and state parks. As the first hospitality company with an absolute greenhouse gas reduction target, Xanterra aims to reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by 10% below 2000 levels by 2015. By 2004, Xanterra was already nearly halfway to reaching its goal with emissions 4.75% below 2000 levels. In 2006, Xanterra is using 6,011,723 kilowatt hours of renewable wind, solar, or geothermal energy, totaling more than 7% of total energy use at its operations nationwide. This prevents 2,300 tons of carbon dioxide from being emitted. Wind power provides 50% of Xanterra's electricity at Crater Lake and Zion, and a third at Mount Rushmore. In addition to renewable energy, Xanterra is reducing emissions through fuel switching (from heating fuel oil to propane), strategic conservation programs, energy control systems in rooms and facilities, and efficiency upgrades including 27,000 lighting retrofits. Xanterra is one of only a few hospitality companies to construct buildings that have achieved the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED green building rating system certification (one at Yellowstone and another being built at Crater Lake National Park). Last year the company designated its own company-wide CAFE standard of 35 miles per gallon for all company vehicles purchased.
