Mount Rushmore National Memorial has achieved "climate-friendly park" status thanks to energy reduction, waste management and other efforts that the park has undertaken since 2007.
The designation is part of a National Park Service plan that focuses on sustainability.
Mount Rushmore Superintendent Cheryl Schreier says the park's staff, partners and visitors have contributed toward the goal of earning the designation. She says "everyday visitors are using water bottle filling stations, park partners are recycling waste products and staff members are turning off lights in unoccupied offices."
The efforts undertaken by the park include the installation of a new lighting system to illuminate the mountain carving, resulting in energy savings of more than 90 percent, and the installation of new thermostats that provide a consistent control of building energy use.
The designation is part of a National Park Service plan that focuses on sustainability.
Mount Rushmore Superintendent Cheryl Schreier says the park's staff, partners and visitors have contributed toward the goal of earning the designation. She says "everyday visitors are using water bottle filling stations, park partners are recycling waste products and staff members are turning off lights in unoccupied offices."
The efforts undertaken by the park include the installation of a new lighting system to illuminate the mountain carving, resulting in energy savings of more than 90 percent, and the installation of new thermostats that provide a consistent control of building energy use.