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The world’s appetite for energy is undeniable. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, “[T]otal world consumption of marketed energy is projected to increase by 44 percent from 2006 to 2030.”
Since there is no clear blueprint available for parks and recreation professionals, I asked more than 100 specialists (including parks and recreation professionals, energy-conservation boards, scientists, private- and public-energy groups, environmental committees and university academics) for the top-ten ways a recreation center/community center can conserve energy. The responses were surprising and varied; although each participant did not give ten ideas, most at least offered some insight. After reviewing all the responses, I had over ten viable solutions. Nearly a year and several revisions later, the list now is in its current form. Not wanting to leave anyone out, I included some of the solutions that didn’t quite make the top ten, a “best of the rest.”
Identify Hot Spots
The list contains many recognized and accepted solutions for reducing energy use. For example, remote-control lighting systems are a fast-growing industry within parks and recreation. Greg Watkins, with Skylogix, suggests: