Going Green at Balboa Park

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Members of the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership are “going green” to enhance and preserve San Diego’s iconic park as it approaches its 100-year anniversary. Representatives of the park’s 24 cultural institutions are participating in a series of workshops to learn how to incorporate sustainability practices into the workplace. The curriculum covers sustainability techniques that, when implemented, will not only contribute to park preservation efforts but also save money and natural resources.

“These workshops educate by encouraging our Partnership members to adopt sustainability practices,” said David Lang, executive director of the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership. “By pooling our knowledge and resources, Balboa Park is well on its way to incorporating environmentally friendly operations. Our efforts in 2008 produced a cost savings of $420,000 through substantially reduced energy consumption.”

The workshop series covers an introduction to sustainability and life cycle costing, energy management, water management and green building basics.

“It makes so much sense that we continue to integrate sustainable practices into Reuben H. Fleet Science Center operations,” said David McGrew, director of Facilities and Engineering for the Center. “Balboa Park is not only a cultural treasure but it is also a natural resource for San Diego residents and visitors from around the world. It is in everyone’s interest to manage the park in a sustainable manner.”

Arts, science and cultural institutions participating in the Balboa Park Cultural Partnership include: Balboa Park Central, Centro Cultural de la Raza, House of Pacific Relations, Japanese Friendship Garden Society of San Diego, Mingei International Museum, Museum of Photographic Arts, Reuben H. Fleet Science Center, San Diego Air & Space Museum, San Diego Art Institute; Museum of the Living Artist, San Diego Automotive Museum, San Diego Hall of Champions Sports Museum, San Diego Historical Society, San Diego Junior Theatre, San Diego Model Railroad Museum, San Diego Museum of Art, San Diego Museum of Man, San Diego Natural History Museum, San Diego Youth Symphony, San Diego Zoo, Spanish Village Art Center, The Old Globe, Timken Museum of Art, Veterans Museum and Memorial Center, and WorldBeat Center.