DCNR Secretary, Others Announce Point State Park Commitment To Energy Conservation in Pittsburgh 2030 District

PITTSBURGH, Sept. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn today joined local government leaders and Bureau of State Parks and Green Building Alliance officials in Pittsburgh in announcing Point State Park will participate in the Pittsburgh 2030 District, through which participants commit to reducing energy and water consumption at their facilities -- with an overall goal of 50 percent reduction across the entire district by the year 2030.

"I am proud to announce today that Point State Park has joined the Pittsburgh 2030 District and that discussions currently are under way on some very exciting projects that will further reduce our energy expenditures here at Point," Dunn said. "Today is just the start, part of DCNR's overall sustainability agenda as we move to save money and reduce our carbon footprint in our 121 state parks and 2.2 million acres of state forestlands."

The secretary noted Point's enrollment in the Pittsburgh 2030 District pushes the state park and its staff to go beyond energy and water conservation efforts already in place, such as LED lighting at the fountain and across the park, low-flow and no-flow fixtures, and landscaping that controls storm-water runoff.

"Today, we add a new chapter as Point State Park becomes part of the 'sustainability story' in Pittsburgh," said Dunn. "As a member of the Pittsburgh 2030 district, DCNR looks forward to taking on this challenge by working to reduce our energy and water consumption, promoting efficiency in our operations, and sharing what we have learned with others at this park, and across our agency, we re-commit ourselves today to the conservation legacy that has been forged in our Commonwealth and we look forward to writing this next chapter with each of you."

The secretary's Point State Park visit kicked off a "Driving Toward Sustainability" fall tour, in which she highlighted DCNR's commitment to sustainability in Pittsburgh; will officially dedicate a new solar installation Wednesday at Presque Isle State Park, Erie County; and help dedicate a new energy-efficient visitor center Thursday Kinzua Bridge State Park in McKean County.

"We at the Green Building Alliance are thrilled with the robust participation and leadership of DCNR, as well as the Point State Park and Fort Pitt Museum staff, in making such a strong statement about the importance of reducing energy and water use in our park system," said Anna J. Siefken, Vice President of Strategic Engagement and Pittsburgh 2030 District Director, Green Building Alliance. "We love both our buildings and our open spaces in Pittsburgh, and this commitment represents a tremendous opportunity to continue to shape the city in an economically viable, sustainable and thoughtful way."

Pittsburgh 2030 District is an internationally recognized, locally driven, voluntary initiative that encourages business owners and facility managers in Downtown Pittsburgh, Oakland, and the Northside to work collaboratively toward aggressive 50 percent reductions in energy use, water consumption, and transportation emissions by the year 2030  -- to save money and increase each building's operational efficiency. Participants -- including 98 property partners, 35 community stakeholders, and eight resource organizations -- are committed to the measured building performance goals of the 2030 Challenge. Part of an international 2030 Districts Network, Pittsburgh 2030 District represents 481 buildings and more than 76.3 million square feet of commercial real estate, and is a public-private partnership convened by Green Building Alliance.

Green Building Alliance is a nonprofit organization designed to inspire healthy, high-performing places for all. GBA was founded in 1993; was the first U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) affiliate; and remains an aligned USGBC chapter. Headquartered in Pittsburgh and serving 26 counties in Western Pennsylvania, it advances its mission through education, technical assistance, advocacy, and two programs: the Pittsburgh 2030 District and Green & Healthy Schools Academy (GHSA).

Totaling 36 acres, Point State Park is located at the tip of Pittsburgh's "Golden Triangle," and commemorates and preserves strategic and historic heritage of the area during the French and Indian War (1754 - 1763). Development was authorized in 1945; the first parcel was purchased in 1946; and the park was completed and dedicated in 1974. In 1975, Point State Park was designated a National Historic Landmark.

Point State Park is owned and operated by DCNR's Bureau of State Parks. DCNR works in collaboration with the Heinz History Center and the Fort Pitt Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution to interpret the history of the Forks of the Ohio.

For more information on GBA and the 2030 District, visit https://www.go-gba.org/initiatives/pittsburgh-2030-district.

Details on Point and Pennsylvania's other 120 state parks can be found at www.dcnr.pa.gov.

MEDIA CONTACTS:  Terry Brady, DCNR, 717-705-2225, or [email protected]
Stephanie Sikora, GBA, 412-773-6014, or [email protected]

SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources

Related Links

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us