Partnerships between Yellowstone National Park, Xanterra Parks & Resorts, and other organizations have led to numerous sustainability projects that balance environmental protection with visitor services. Successful partnerships require maintaining each party's values while meeting shared goals. Projects range from renewable energy and LEED-certified buildings to alternative transportation and waste reduction programs. Partners contribute funding, technical expertise, and products to help Yellowstone expand sustainability efforts across its large, remote areas in an innovative, collaborative way. Future partnerships could help improve regional infrastructure and capacity for sustainability.

1. PARTNERSHIPS FOR INNOVATION:
STRATEGIES FROM YELLOWSTONE
U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL OF MONTANA | 2016 SUMMIT
LYNN CHAN
LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT/SUSTAINABILITY PROJECT MANAGER
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE
REBECCA OWENS
SUSTAINABILITY PROGRAM MANAGER
XANTERRA PARKS & RESORTS
Representing the
Yellowstone EnvironmentalCoordinating Committee

2. YELLOWSTONE PARTNERSHIP SCOPE
Program, Projects and Beyond

3. REACHING PARTNERS
Mission & Who We Are
Yellowstone has become the
cornerstone for land conservation and a
leader in environmental management.
GREENING YELLOWSTONE
Our sustainability program strives to
expand this commitment to include
operations and facility adaption.

4. opportunitIES &ChallengeS
Unique Natural & Cultural Setting
Huge diversity of facilitiesand infrastructureneeds across large area.
Opportunity for engagement, education and marketing
Provide services for millionsof visitors.
Collaboration across disciplines , interactive teams, networking at many levels
Command Control , policies and requirements,
complicated review and approval, lack of funding.
Creativity, technical advancements, innovativeteams
Need for training, technical support, stafftime to lead and manage!

5. Successful partnerships
• Maintain NPS values while
meeting needs and desires of
partners.
• Maintain partner values while
meeting the needs of the
NPS.
• Long-term innovators stay
involved in NPS. e.g. Xanterra

6. Partnership TYPES
Let’s define partner…
• Concessions - Considerable improvement of government
assets.
• Non-Profits (YA/YPF) - rally diverse interests, resources.
• Corporate/Private - WE NEED YOU!
• Government Agency - grants, direction, technical
support.
• Higher Education - analysis, monitoring, technical
support, student learning.

7. Guidance & Direction
Yellowstone: NPS and all leased property
Sustainability : Communicating Our Standards
– EO 13693, e.g. reduce building energy intensity 2.5% annually
through FY 2025 (25% reduction) relative to FY 2015
– Green Parks Plan
– Call to Action
– Management Policies – all visitor service buildings meet LEED
Silver level
– Guiding Principles for High Performance Buildings – NPS
Sustainability Checklists incorporate LEED
Sharing Specs Addresses Low-Bid Challenge?

8. RequiRements… oppoRtunities?

9. Where do partners best fit?
Goals: Planning/Strategy
Resources: Best Practices/Technologies
Projects: Design/Development
Products: R&D/Funding/Customize
Programs: Process/Adaptive Change
Progress: Monitoring/Reporting
Outreach: Education/Communication

10. Partner development
Yellowstone Park Foundation (“YPF”)
– Fundraising , build relationships,
match needs and interests
Greening Yellowstone Symposiums
– Share knowledge and ideas for
targets and actions
– Developed “Strategic Plan for
Sustainability”
– Built new partnerships but…

11. Yellowstone LEED Projects
Gardiner Housing - 1st LEED in Montana
Old Faithful Visitor Education Center Visitor Center
Old Faithful Haynes Photo Shop - 1st LEED Historic Renovation
Old Faithful Employee Housing - 1st Platinum
Canyon Village Lodging - Largest LEED to date in NPS
Yellowstone Youth Campus - Living Building Challenge
Lake Village Employee Housing
Haynes Administrative Building

12. NPS EXAMPLES

13. OLD FAITHFUL Photoshop
Partner
Contribution
YPF funded
through donations
and product
donations

14. Michelin
developing INVOLVEMENT
Start: Donations to YPF via travel guide
proceeds.
2009: Became involved with YELL tire
program.
• NPS - Low rolling resistant tires
• Michelin - Product development,
exposure.
2015: KBI recycles tires  permeable
pavement paths.
Beyond: Interested in other transport
and transit improvements for YELL

15. A pARtneR mVp…

16. TOYOTA
Donation of Prius Hybrids
Green Build and LEED
expertise provided for OF VEC
Funding support
Education and outreach
Lamar Buffalo Ranch
Camry batteries for solar
energy storage

17. Lamar Buffalo Ranch
• World renowned natural setting and wildlife viewing
• Historic District key to the story of the North American Bison
• Educational Facility
• Ranger Residence and Backcountry Operations base
• Off the grid

18. Forming a Team for Lamar
Interested partners came to planning meeting
– Set goal: zero fossil fuel use for daily operations
– Planned/Phased approach
– Partners volunteered for responsibilities

19. A Phased Approach
• Phase 1: Alternative Energy Sources, Monitoring
• Phase 2: Building Envelope Improvements
• Phase 3: Conversion to All-electric

20. Phase 1: Alternative Energy
Solar Array
InverterHydro-turbine
Propane Back-up
Generator
Recycled
Batteries
Data-
Monitoring
Dashboards
Lamar Grid,
Facilities
Sharp Electronics,
All Correct Solar,
Patriot Solar
Indy Power
Systems
Montana State
University
Toyota
Canyon Industries
Kohler
System
Sizing
Georgia Tech
Research Institute
Project Coordination
NPS, YA, YPF
(CTA, Jackson)

21. Lessons Learned
• Long-term partnerships help success and build capacity
• Involving partners in planning helps build a sense of
ownership and commitment
• Understand donated products’ stage of development
• Manage Expectations
• Make sure partners and contractors read plans
• Some players under contract, others not, complicates
management
• Focus on communication

22. CLEAN CITIES
• Partner in securing DOE
grants for alternative vehicles
& fuels
• Electric vehicle charging
infrastructure and plug-in EVs

23. others
• Window applications: Lamar, Mammoth,
Canyon, OF - Andersen Windows
• Water fixtures, Green Build - Kohler
• Propane initiative for clean(er) energy - PERC
• Plastics to Carpets - Signature Carpets
• Used propane fuel canister recycling - MSU,
Worthington
• Outdoor Lighting - GE, private donors, Ohio
Northern University

24. XANTERRA EXAMPLES

25. Xanterra Parks & Resorts
Yellowstone National Park Lodges
Operations
(7 locations, +3000 staff)
Contractual and compliance
requirements
Corporate environmental
commitments
Legendary Hospitality with a Softer Footprint

26. Canyon AREA ProjeCts
• GeoMATRIX
– Outdoor
furniture
– Indoor surfaces
• CALR
– Modular
– Phased
– Min. LEED Silver

28. Paintbrush EMPLOYEE Housing
• YPF
– Andersen Windows
• LEED Teamwork
– Kath Williams
– 2015 Celebration
• Renewable Energy
– On-Site Energy

29. On-Site Energy
Renewable Energy - Contract Requirement
Approx. 30kW ~ 42,000kwh/year

30. PROGRAM PARTNERS
• Full Circle Biofuels – Cooking Oil Reuse
(45,274 lbs. in 2014)
• Western Sustainability Exchange – Meat, etc.
(38% total local food in 2014)
• Vapur – H2O Bottles

31. Program Partners
• Back Alley Metals –
Outdoor Waste Sorting
• Grainger –
In-room Sorting Unit

32. SUMMARY

33. Strategies
1. Think Team
2. Connect
3. Listen and Follow
4. Adapt
5. Align Goals
6. Create Proposals
7. Tell Story & Celebrate

34. Future PARTNERS?
• Sharing local and regional knowledge and
expertise – lessons learned
• Reaching regional contractors to build
knowledge about NEW best practices
• Improving infrastructure sustainability…
• EPP/Waste Diversion – regional capacity?
• GHG emissions reduction (transport)
• TELL YOUR STORY

36. Questions? Stay in Touch!
Contact Us
Lynn Chan
(307) 344-2622
lynn_chan@nps.gov
Rebecca Owens
(307) 344-5566
rowens@xanterra.com