Disney Recognized for Energy Conservation
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., Oct. 30, 2013 - Imagine saving enough electricity to power Space Mountain for 35 years. That’s what Walt Disney World Resort did in 2013, earning Sustainable Florida’s 2013 large business best practice award.
Sustainable Florida is a nonprofit organization committed to conserving Florida’s vast natural and economic resources. The award is given each year to companies and organizations for their efforts to protect and preserve the state’s environment.
Between 2009 and 2013, Walt Disney World Resort reduced overall electricity consumption more than 10 percent by changing Cast Member behavior, implementing new technology and equipment and adjusting operations to conserve energy.
“We are especially proud to receive the best practice award from Sustainable Florida because it is recognition of our company’s long-standing commitment to the environment, conservation and the natural world,” said, Jackie Ogden, Ph.D., vice president of animal, science and environment at Walt Disney Parks and Resorts. “We’re always looking for new ways to conserve resources, including electricity, and to continue building on our success in the years to come.”
The company set a goal of reducing electricity usage by 10 percent based on 2006 consumption. The nearly 70,000 Cast Members at Walt Dsiney World Resort were encouraged, through the “Make the Switch” campaign to change their behavior by turning off switches when not in use.
In addition, teams worked behind the scenes on technical projects that accomplished everything from establishing optimal run time for kitchen equipment and proper lighting levels during non-operational hours, to creating specific standards for temperature settings, lighting and appliances.