Gettysburg, Pa. (Feb. 18, 2011) — The Gettysburg Adams Chamber of Commerce today honored the Gettysburg Foundation with the 2010 Environmental Stewardship award in recognition of Gettysburg National Military Park’s achievement of LEED® Gold Certification by the U.S. Green Building Council.
This is the 13th year that the Gettysburg Adams Chamber of Commerce has presented this award. The Chamber's Environmental Committee solicited applications for the award from Gettysburg-area businesses, industries or organizations that have implemented programs or projects which have had a positive environmental aspect on the Adams County area.
The Gettysburg National Military Park achieved Gold level LEED® certification status in July 2010 by the U.S. Green Building Council. It is one of only four Gold certified LEED® museum projects in the nation, and it is the first Gold certified museum project in Pennsylvania.
The Chamber of Commerce's Environmental Committee recognized the following aspects of the Museum and Visitor Center's environmental responsibility:
- Geothermal heating and cooling system
- Stormwater management
- LED lighting
- Variable frequency drives on motors inside the facility
Additional environmental highlights of the facility include wetlands restoration and native plant landscaping at the facility, recycling, construction waste reduction, timber reuse and regional material usage and spaces for low-emission vehicles and carpooling.
The Gettysburg Foundation is a private, nonprofit educational organization working in partnership with the National Park Service to enhance preservation and understanding of the heritage and lasting significance of Gettysburg. The Foundation raised funds for and now operates the Museum and Visitor Center at Gettysburg National Military Park, 1195 Baltimore Pike, in Gettysburg, in partnership with the National Park Service.
In addition to operating the Museum and Visitor Center, the Foundation has a broad perservation mission that includes land, monument and arifact preservation and battlefield rehabilitation — all in support of the National Park Service's goals at Gettysburg.
For information about the Foundation, the Friends of Gettysburg (the membership component of the Gettysburg Foundation), visiting Gettysburg or becoming a part of the history at Gettysburg through your contribution, visit www.gettysburgfoundation.org or call 877-874-2478 or the administrative offices at 717-338-1243.