For Immediate Release
DENVER, May 29, 2008 - At Xanterra Parks & Resorts, designing and remodeling buildings are opportunities to minimize environmental impact not only during the construction phase but for the life of those buildings as well. Over the past decade, Xanterra has increased its efforts to be a better steward of the environment, including the area of design and construction.
Xanterra has developed "Guidelines for Environmentally Sustainable Design and Construction" which defines Xanterra's expectations for all contractors, subcontractors, architects, engineers, consultants and vendors working with Xanterra on the design, construction or rehabilitation of buildings in national parks. Xanterra uses the guidelines to ensure that new construction and renovations of buildings will be as environmentally sensitive as possible.
"In many ways it is easier - and definitely more effective - to take a building from the design stage to final construction and minimize the environmental impact," said Chris Lane, Xanterra's vice president of environmental affairs. "We have been able to build upon years of accumulated knowledge and ideas to incorporate building techniques and materials that are far beyond what were used in our parks years ago."
Xanterra supports the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system. In 2004 Xanterra transformed a contaminated "brownfield" site in Yellowstone National Park into employee housing that became the first LEED-certified buildings in the state of Montana as well as the entire national park system. The two 2,000-square-foot houses feature high-insulation foundations and walls, passive solar heat, thermal heat, a solar electric power system, structural insulated roof panels, appliances that minimize the use of water and gas and many other sustainable features.
In 2006 Xanterra completed construction of the $3.7 million Annie Creek Restaurant and Gift Shop in Crater Lake National Park. The building was designed to complement the classic national park architecture evident in the Crater Lake Lodge while using a variety of environmentally sustainable construction techniques. For example, the company preserved trees that would be targeted for removal under normal circumstances and reduced the impact of the construction footprint. The building's sustainable architectural design includes use of sustainably harvested wood products, state-of-the-art HVAC systems, an airlock vestibule to limit air infiltration, energy used to reheat interior spaces and formaldehyde-free and post-consumer recycled materials. The building is powered by 100 percent renewable energy purchases and has fixtures to reduce water consumption by 40 percent.
In 2006, Xanterra renovated six guest suites at Zion Lodge in Zion National Park to be as environmentally sustainable as possible. Now called "Ecologix Environmental Suites," these feature bamboo floor entryways, recycled content interface Entropy Carpet, dual-flush toilets, renewable solar and wind energy, organic bamboo or organic cotton sheets and linens, all-natural biodegradable amenities, automated heat and air-conditioning sensors and lighting products and techniques that minimize energy usage.
Xanterra has long been recognized as an environmental leader in the hospitality industry. For example, the company received the "Sustainable Hotel of the Year" award at the HotelWorld Global Hospitality and Design Award Ceremony and Expo recently for its environmental achievements at Zion Lodge. Additionally, Xanterra will soon introduce "sustainable amenities" in its lodge operations and will complete construction on one of largest renewable energy systems in the U.S. - a one-megawatt solar photovoltaic system in Death Valley National Park. Other initiatives in the last few years include committing to - and achieving the goal of - an absolute reduction target in greenhouse gas emissions, banning the sales of fish species that are harvested in environmentally harmful ways, certifying environmental management systems to the ISO 14001 international standard, recycling grease onsite into biodiesel for use in fleet vehicles and helping to pioneer the development of a mobile propane bottle recycling unit.
For a complete list of Xanterra accomplishments and certifications, go to http://www.xanterra.com/sustainable-design-construction-382.html.
###
Xanterra Parks & Resorts® (consisting of Xanterra Parks & Resorts, Inc. and Xanterra South Rim, L.L.C.) operates lodges, restaurants and other concessions at national parks and state parks and resorts. Xanterra Parks & Resorts is the country's largest park concessioner. Xanterra operates concessions in the following locations: Yellowstone, Bryce Canyon, Zion, Crater Lake, Death Valley, Rocky Mountain and Petrified Forest National Parks, and Mount Rushmore National Memorial; and at the Silverado Resort in Napa, Calif.; and eight Ohio State Parks. Its affiliate Xanterra South Rim, L.L.C. operates concessions at the South Rim of the Grand Canyon. Xanterra operates the Grand Canyon Railway in Williams, Ariz.
For more information about Xanterra, links to individual properties and reservations numbers, visit www.xanterra.com
Xanterra Parks & Resorts
6312 S. Fiddlers Green Circle
Suite 600 North
Greenwood Village, Co 80111
Media contact:
Mona Mesereau
(1) 720-842-5271