G rey Towers History and Mission Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, was a visionary whose commitment to the conservation of American forests influenced President Theodore Roosevelt to create the Forest Service in 1905. His life-long, unrelenting concern for the stewardship of forests won him the title of “father” of American forestry. Today, Mr. Pinchot’s legacy lives on in Grey Towers National Historic Site, his ancestral home that was donated to the Forest Service in 1963 by his family and dedicated by President John F. Kennedy as a National Historic Landmark that same year. His early 20th century dream of conservation and stewardship is a forerunner of today’s sustainability ethic and is reflected in the present use, management, and mission of Grey Towers. This Sustainability Report was made possible through a PRIZIM Inc. Corporate Social Responsibility Program charitable donation. Table of Contents Message from the Director Guiding Values ii iii Sustainability Assessment Summary Economic Indicators 1 5 Environmental Indicators 7 13 Looking Forward 17 GRI Indicator Index 19 Social Indicators 2008 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT | i Message from the Director “ The vast possibilities of our great future will become realities only if we make ourselves responsible for that future.” –Gifford Pinchot Environmental stewardship is the heritage of Grey Towers National Historic Site (Grey Towers). We are dedicated to preserving the forest conservation ethic of Gifford Pinchot, the first Chief of the U.S. Forest Service. Since President John F. Kennedy dedicated Grey Towers as a national landmark in 1963, we have offered public programs, tours, and conservation education to promote Pinchot’s vision of conservation. Part of being a leader in the conservation of natural resources includes “walking the talk,” putting in place those practices we advocate. In the 2007 National Environmental Footprint Report Forest Service, Abigail R. Kimbell, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service, said, “History will judge us by how well we respond to the issues of climate change. I submit that we all have a responsibility to be leaders in this arena. Our traditional stewardship role is one and the same as reducing our own environmental footprint.” At Grey Towers, environmental stewardship is the legacy that links our past to our commitment for the future. Every action we take has an impact on the environment—the amount of energy and water we consume, the amount of waste we generate, even the products we buy. The resulting environmental damage from climate change, air and water pollution, and depletion of finite natural resources have an adverse impact on the future health, well-being, and sustainability of our planet. By acting responsibly in the choices we make every day, we can help to create an environmentally sustainable future. Once we understand how much of these resources we use, and the pollution and wastes we generate, we can start to reduce that consumption. This Sustainability Report, the first conducted for Grey Towers, is a significant step in defining the baseline of our environmental footprint. In subsequent sustainability reports, we will continue to measure our performance against this baseline, add new information, and track our progress. Education is a large component of the Grey Towers mission, and we ourselves continue to learn about creating a sustainable future. We lead by example, so as conscientious leaders in environmental sustainability, we commit to continually reviewing our progress against sustainability goals and sharing these results with our stakeholders. ii | GREY TOWERS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE Richard Paterson Director, Grey Towers National Historic Site Guiding values A ccording to the U.S. Forest Service’s (Forest Ser- “Climate change has vice) website, the concept of sustainability is been linked to declining embedded in the Forest Service mission to “sus- snowpacks, retreating tain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations.” For more than 100 years, the Forest Service has been committed to caring for the land and glaciers, and changing patterns of precipitation and runoff. The evidence shows that we are entering a period of water scarcity serving people in a manner that encourages a shared re- not seen in our history. sponsibility among partners and visitors, and sustains a The national forests were full suite of public benefits, including ecosystem services created in part for ‘securing that are essential for quality of life. favorable conditions of water flows,’ the importance In addition to Grey Towers desire to minimize their environmental footprint, Executive Order (EO) 13423 – Strengthening Federal Energy, Environmental, and Transportation Management (recently made a law under of which has grown as populations have grown. We can make a difference by managing national forests and grasslands to restore PL111-B Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 SOC 748). ecological processes and EO 13423 provides a relevant legal driver to reinforce the functions that support clean importance of monitoring and decreasing environmental and healthy streams, lakes, impacts. EO 13423 identifies several areas for focused and aquifers.” environmental stewardship efforts: Energy Conservation, Water Conservation, Green Purchasing, Fleet and Trans- —U.S. Forest Service Chief, Abigail R. Kimbell portation Management, Waste Prevention and Recycling, Sustainable Buildings, and Environmental Management Systems. Available information on these elements of the EO requirements is included in this Report. 2008 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT | iii Sustainability assessment summary Stakeholders Economic Impacts • • • • • Local jobs • Free/low cost site for community events • Internships for students Forest Service management and staff Partner organizations Local community General public Environmental Impacts Social Impacts • • • • • Community services • Educational resources • Partnerships with community associations, schools and universities, non-governmental organizations Energy use Waste and recycling Water use Landscape and forest management Major Strengths Major Weaknesses • Outreach and education • Economic stimulus funding • Creative approach to historical window repair/ replacement • Management and staff support and enthusiasm for sustainability efforts • Carbon sequestration • Challenges of balancing historic preservation and modern energy efficiency installations and retrofits • Extensive landscaping requires frequent watering • Incomplete transportation impact Major Opportunities Major Challenges • Potential use of alternative energy sources, including biomass, solar-powered energy, and geothermal energy • Reduce energy use • Reduce water consumption hOrganizational Profile Grey Towers, a national landmark, is part of the Forest Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), a department within the Federal government. The Federal Government, USDA, and the Forest Service are headquartered in Washington, D.C. Grey Towers serves the federal government, specifically the USDA, and non-profit organizations, including the Grey Towers Heritage Association and The Pinchot Institute for Conservation, by facilitating meetings, conferences, and seminars, as well as coordinating with the organizations for outreach and educational endeavors. 2008 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT | 1 PERFORMANCE INDICATORS GRI Indicators Description: Organizational Profile 2.1 Name of organization Grey Towers National Historic Site 2.2 Primary services Outreach and education, tours, partnerships, green meetings 2.3 Operational structure of the organization U.S. Forest Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Federal Government 2.4 Location of headquarters Washington, D.C. 2.5 Countries of operation United States; limited operations in other countries, including Mexico and Canada. 2.6 Nature of ownership U.S. Federal Government 2.7 Markets served U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service, conservation non-profit organizations, community groups, educators 2.8 Scale of organization Number of Employees: 18 FTEs; 14 PTEs Products and Services Provided: Education, Conference Facilities, Training, Workshops, Historic and Resource Stewardship 2.9 Significant changes N/A 2.10 Awards received N/A hReport Parameters/Scope Sustainability encompasses many elements of preserving, protecting, conserving, and minimizing the use of resources, as well as improving management quality through stakeholder engagement, public disclosure, and performance improvement. To gauge the degree to which these elements are being achieved, accountability and transparency in reporting are necessary. A common method for achieving both accountability and transparency is to identify goals and timelines by which these goals are to be achieved. Then, the implementation phase begins: developing baselines, tracking progress toward the goals, documenting benchmarks. As implementation rolls out, communication is needed – to communicate the results, identify successes and challenges, and discuss next steps. Through a process of continuous improvement, an organization can develop, implement, and repeat this cycle. Grey Towers is committed to such a strategy. This Sustainability Report adheres to the reporting criteria of the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), 2 | Grey Towers Performance: Baseline 2008 GREY TOWERS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE a������������������������������������������������ stakeholder governed institution providing global standards in sustainability reporting. The GRI standards facilitate transparency in reporting and offer a framework for specific criteria and indicators. This Sustainability Report describes Grey Towers’ sustainable management approach, defines benchmarks, and provides supporting metrics in four key areas: • Resource conservation • Energy use • Carbon footprint • Outreach and education This report includes the Mansion and other historic core buildings (the Ice House, Letter Box, and Bait Box) as well as the maintenance compound and visitor service centers at Grey Towers. In this report, the reporting period for energy and water use and social factors is calendar year (CY) 2008. The reporting period for tracking training programs is fiscal year (FY) 2008. In future years, data collection will be adjusted to ensure consistency of reporting time periods. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS GRI Indicators Description: Report Parameters Grey Towers Performance: Baseline 2008 3.1 Reporting Period Energy Use, Water Use, Carbon Footprint: CY 2008 Outreach and Education Programs: FY 2008 3.2 Date of Last Report N/A 3.3 Reporting Cycle Annual 3.4 Contact Individual Richard (Dick) Paterson, Director rpaterson@fs.fed.us 570-296-6061 3.5 Report Content Determined based on data availability, applicability to Grey Towers mission and operations, and assumed stakeholder value 3.6 Report Boundaries Grey Towers National Historic Site facilities, activities, and operations 3.7 Limitations on Report Data was not available for all indicators due to information availability related to tracking and reporting constraints 3.8 Reporting on Outside Influences N/A 3.10 Re-statements N/A 3.11 Changes from Previous Reports N/A 3.12 GRI Content Index C level 2008 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT | 3 hGovernance, Commitments, and Engagement Grey Towers is also responsible for understanding and working with its stakeholders. As a relatively unique unit within the Forest Service, Grey Towers maintains both the Forest Service traditional stakeholders and a distinct set of stakeholders, such as non-profit organizations and partners. In the latter group, Grey Towers management accounts for persons, groups and/or organizations that have direct and indirect interactions with the site, facilities, and/or operations. As a unit within the Forest Service, Grey Towers is governed by the Forest Service, which is governed by the USDA. The Secretary of Agriculture manages the USDA and its agencies. Ultimately, as a cabinet level appointment within the Executive Branch of the U.S. government, the Secretary is governed by the President of the United States. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS GRI Indicators 4 | Description: Governance, Commitments, and Engagement Grey Towers Performance: Baseline 2008 4.1 Governance Structure As a unit within a federal agency (Forest Service), Grey Towers reports through the Forest Service, which reports to through the USDA to the President of the United States, the highest level of authority for the Federal government 4.2 Chair as Executive Officer N/A 4.3 Independent/Non-executive N/A 4.4 Stakeholder Input Forest Service staff, management 4.14 Engaged Stakeholder Groups Forest Service staff and leadership; Leadership seminar attendees and coordinators; Local and regional communities; General public; Partners; General public 4.15 Identification of Stakeholders Data is tracked and collected to identify potential stakeholders, including persons, groups, and organizations that interact with Grey Towers, directly or indirectly. GREY TOWERS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE Economic indicators I n 2008, Grey Towers had annual operating budget of $1.9 million, which was allocated through Forest Service funding, based on appropriations from Congress. The operating budget supports Grey Towers’ functions, including but not limited to staff salaries, facility and grounds management, conference, tour, and outreach operations, and utilities. Although not accounted for in the operational budgets, federal agencies and units, particularly those in land management agencies such as the Forest Service, are likely to be most acutely impacted by financial implications associated with climate change. While the impacts may occur slowly, gradual changes in the climate are predicted to affect seasonal temperatures, rainfall, and vegetation changes, including changes in species populations in the local areas. These changes all have potential economic impacts, including increased costs associated with utilities such as air conditioning and heating needs, irrigation and site management challenges associated with annual rainfalls and local water availability, and direct economic benefits associated with timber sales, where applicable. Although Grey Towers does not engage in timber sale activity, the availability of downed timber and/or preferred species for biomass production, a proposed plan for Grey Towers, may translate into economic terms. Biomass may become more or less lucrative and practical, depending on the effects of climate change to the local area. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS GRI Indicators GRI Indicator: Economic Core Performance Indicators Grey Towers Performance : Baseline 2008 EC2 Financial Implications from Climate Change Unknown; however, predicted to require additional funding for changes in land management practices and utility costs. EC4 Government Financial Assistance Dependent upon federal funding, which was allocated through Congressionally-approved appropriations. Annual Operating Budget: $1.9 million EC7 Local Senior Management Hiring process is facilitated through the Federal USA Jobs system; status as a member of the local community is not a direct factor in the hiring decision process. 2008 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT | 5 6 | GREY TOWERS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE Environmental indicators hResource Conservation By limiting resource use and intensity, the need for new materials or replacement of existing resources is reduced. Ultimately, this diminished demand translates into reduced impacts on the environment. Grey Towers adopted a forward-looking approach to conserving and minimizing the use of resources through the following practices: • All copier machines were set for two-sided copying, reducing copy paper use by up to 50%, and staff made a conscious effort to used lightly used paper as scratch paper in lieu of unused paper • Spent light bulbs were recycled and replaced with low-mercury, high-efficiency compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), generating fewer waste light bulbs and reducing energy consumption by up to 25% • Motion-sensing lights were installed in the new visitor bathrooms and the faucets and urinals equipped with motion-sensors for ondemand water for hand washing and flushing to reduce water consumption • The heating, air conditioning, and ventilation (HVAC) system was actively monitored, managed, and repaired to optimize peak efficiency • Insulation was added to buildings that had not been upgraded during previous rehabilitation work to improve the building’s energy efficiency envelope • The chiller was replaced with a more energy efficient model that uses a non-ozone-depleting refrigerant • Staff lowered the thermostat temperature in the winter, and raised it in the summer to reduce the heating and cooling demands • Native plants, trees, and shrubs were planted and maintained on the property which assure regional soil and climate-adapted vegetation and reduced need for water use through irrigation Grey Towers actively recycles many items including: • Cardboard Grey Towers developed an environmentally preferable (“green”) purchasing program for the many cleaning, office, and maintenance products used onsite. Through the program staff give priority to green products identified through program such as the USDA BioPreferred program and the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines (CPG). The EPA CPG, for example, seeks to lower the environmental and human health impacts associated with the use of these products. For example, by using the EPA CPG and USDA BioPreferred programs, Grey Towers staff were able to identify product alternatives and reduce the use of hazardous materials. This change in purchasing decisions provides benefits for the employees, the environment, and the bottom line. Minimizing the use of hazardous materials results in less hazardous waste generation and disposal, saving time and money. Grey Towers staff have also adopted the practice of “buying as needed,” to reduce waste from unused products and eliminate storage concerns associated with potentially hazardous products. • Newspapers 2008 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT | 7 • Magazines • Toner cartridges • Furniture • Aluminum • Batteries • Glass • Plastic • Office paper • Oil products (e.g., oil paint, used motor oil) • Fluorescent lamps Grey Towers also has two six-yard dumpsters used for disposal of mixed trash that were emptied weekly by a commercial refuse service. This yielded a maximum annual volume of 624 yards of trash. The volume of recycled items was not measured. Plans are underway to measure both the volume of recycled materials and the volume of trash to establish a generation baseline and improve documentation. hEnergy Energy consumption, direct and indirect, is a core GRI performance indicator. Energy saved due to conservation and efficiency improvements is reflected in the calculation of total energy consumption. Grey Towers direct energy use consists of electricity, natural gas, and propane gas. Electricity is used throughout site for lighting, kitchen appliances, office equipment, the fire suppression system, and power tools in the woodshop. Research is underway to identify opportunities on-site for biomass and/or geothermal heating system installation as well as a photovoltaic bank for electricity production. kWh Electricity Use CY2008 50000 45000 40000 35000 30000 25000 20000 15000 10000 5000 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul MONTH 8 | GREY TOWERS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Grey Towers staff are addressing electricity use reduction holistically, identifying opportunities across the site and not limiting the scope. As older bulbs burn out, they are replaced with high-efficiency compact fluorescent bulbs. Small, solar-powered lights are installed around the site, including lights used to illuminate signs along the driveway (see photo below). Motion-sensors were installed in the public restrooms and employees are instructed to turn off lights whenever leaving a room. The maintenance garage was designed to utilize natural lighting through the use of ceiling skylights, which provide substantial natural sunlight even when cloudy. This eliminates the need for electric lighting on all but the most overcast days. Case study: Historic windows As historic structures age and sustainability gains traction, questions arise as to how to balance historical integrity and authenticity with improved energy efficiency and functionality. With the primary objective being the preservation of the fabric and the building, a common question arises of how to preserve structural components. This issue gained significance at Grey Towers recently when it was determined that the Mansion’s windows required repair and refinishing. Old, uninsulated single pane window sashes conduct outside temperatures easily, creating challenges for a controlled interior environment. The issue facing the staff was to preserve the historic materials yet identify an energy-efficient solution to satisfy the energy conservation and sustainable building design requirements in Executive Order 13423 – Strengthening Federal Environmental, Energy, and Transportation Management in a cost-effective manner. Grey Towers, with its commitment to historic preservation and sustainability, saw this as a perfect opportunity to demonstrate the complementary relationship between historic preservation and environmental sustainability. The historic preservation staff at Grey Towers considered a broad range of factors when analyzing how to restore the Mansion’s windows. As recommended by the Association for Preservation Technology International, the staff took the long view in conducting their analysis since long-term performance is fundamental to sustainability and historic preservation. Some of the more important factors considered included: • Conservation of embodied energy • Environmental impacts • Economic costs and benefits • Performance • Historic integrity After weighing these factors, Grey Towers staff identified restoration options for the Mansion’s historic windows. The identified solution: custom “storm” windows designed to create an energy-loss barrier while still retaining the historic window aesthetic. As planned, the storm windows achieved both ends: energy efficiency and historic preservation. 2008 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT | 9 hSustainable Design Constructing, renovating, repairing, and/or maintaining a structure according to sustainable design criteria includes principles such as resource conservation, reduction, and operational efficiency. Grey Towers staff have incorporated sustainable design features in a variety of contexts. For example, although preservation of the historic windows was the primary factor in maintaining their 123 year history of continued use, consideration of sustainable solutions led the preservation staff to implement solutions with a low visual impact while nearly doubling their energy efficiency (see page 9). Sustainability was also a driving force when considering how the repave the visitor parking lot and the maintenance facility design. For the visitor parking lot, pervious pavement was selected over traditional asphalt, for its benefit to storm water management and vegetation conservation. The maintenance facility was designed to harness daylight from the skylights for lighting in the main workshop area while radiant floor heating was used to efficiently heat the space, providing heat where the staff needs it most during the winter: at ground level. Staff used the opportunity to incorporate sustainable design when resurfacing their visitor parking lot. After considering economic and environmental factors, the decision was made to resurface the lot with pervious material (see photo below; traditional asphalt on right; pervious surface on left), designed to allow storm water penetration and filtration. The porous bituminous asphalt used “Perhaps the greenest building of all is the one that is already built, one that has embodied energy, or energy that has already been expended to construct the building. Grey Towers’ buildings that already exist and are rehabilitated have already saved an enormous amount of harvesting, extraction of materials and minerals, [and] manufacturing of products.” —Dick Paterson, Director, Grey Towers for the repaving project realized two conservation objectives. First, this type of asphalt allows for rainwater to permeate the surface, allowing the water to percolate into the underlying aquifer. Second, the pervious pavement reduces the potential for erosion problems by reducing storm water runoff. The end result is a functional parking lot that also conserves water and minimizes impacts to surface vegetation. 10 | GREY TOWERS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE hNatural and Propane Gas At Grey Towers, natural gas is used for space heating in the Mansion and other buildings that make up the historic core, including the Letterbox, the Bait Box, the Ice House, the Farm House, and the Gate House. The Visitor Pavilion, which is a modern structure, is also heated with natural gas. Since space heating requirements are highest in the winter months, natural gas usage naturally drops off significantly from April to November. HUNDRED CUBIC FEET (CCF) Natural Gas CY2008 4500 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec MONTH Propane gas is used for space heating in the maintenance building, the four-bay garage, and the curatorial building, which are all modern buildings. The reduction in propane use during summer months, seen in the chart below, results from the use of propane solely for heating, which is typically not needed in summer months. GALLONS Propane Use CY2008 1000.0 900.0 800.0 700.0 600.0 500.0 400.0 300.0 200.0 100.0 0.0 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec MONTH 2008 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT | 11 hWater Use About one-third of Grey Towers’ 102 acres is maintained landscape with extensive gardens. The majority of the water used at Grey Towers is for watering and maintaining the grounds. The highest usage occurs during the drier months from late spring to late summer, as shown on the chart on the next page. Quarterly Water Use CY2008 300000 GALLONS 250000 200000 150000 100000 50000 0 Mar Jun Sep Dec MONTH hCarbon Footprint This initial CFA includes direct emissions associated with natural gas and propane use on-site along with indirect emissions associated with purchased electricity that is generated off-site. Therefore, most of the emissions sources in this initial CFA are represented by the indirect emissions, due to the relatively initial scope of this carbon footprint. Further carbon footprint analyses may expand emissions source tracking to include direct emissions sources such as diesel and gasoline fuel use on-site related to maintenance operations, and indirect emissions sources such as staff commuting, staff air and vehicle travel, and/or air and vehicle travel for Leadership Program participants. Grey Towers’ greenhouse gas inventory was conducted according to the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, a decade-long partnership between the World Resources Institute and the World Business Council for Sustainable Businesses. Emissions data is based on utility records from CY 2008. Estimated Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Metric Tons of Carbon Dioxide (MTCO2) by Source for CY2008 Emissions Source MTCO2 Emitted Percent DIRECT EMISSIONS Propane 19.61 5.9 Natural Gas 217.32 65.7 SubTotal 236.93 71.6 INDIRECT EMISSIONS Purchased Electricity 93.78 28.4 Total 330.71 12 | GREY TOWERS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE Greenhouse Gas Emissions by Source for CY 2008 5.9% 28.4% Propane Electricity Natural Gas 65.7% Grey Towers’ forested property, which has carbon sequestration potential, was also evaluated, using the USDA Carbon On-Line Estimator tool (COLE-EZ). Based on characteristics of the forested acreage, including forest types, age of the stand, stand productivity (annual board feet), and management characteristics (natural versus managed for production), the COLE-EZ model suggests that a total of 111.48 tons of carbon per acre are sequestered in the forested stands on the property. However, due to the limitations associated with the COLE-EZ model,1 the total carbon sequestration potential was not used for calculation of a net carbon footprint. With time, it is expected that the reliability of this tool will enable Grey Towers to more accurately account for its carbon sequestration potential. A CFA is a useful tool in many ways. The analysis provides a mechanism through which Grey Towers’ staff may identify ways to reduce emissions from site activities and track changes over time. The CFA can also serve as a tool to educate staff and visitors about climate change and the importance of forestry practices in promoting mechanisms for carbon sequestration. According to the COLE website, the model output is based on a combination of data sources “where results are unreliable” and the “combinational options provided to the user is large.” 1 PERFORMANCE INDICATORS GRI Indicators Description: Organizational Profile Grey Towers Performance: Baseline 2008 EN1 Materials by weight/volume Projected maximum annual trash volume: 624 yards (the exact amount of trash is not currently measured) EN3 Direct energy consumption Electricity: 230,135 kWh Natural Gas: 527,638 CCF Propane: 3214.6 gallons EN8 Total water withdrawal 720,634 gallons EN11 Location of land near biodiversity 102 acres of forest and vegetated landscape EN16 Direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions by weight Direct: 236.93 MTCO2 Indirect: 93.78 MTCO2 EN17 Relevant indirect greenhouse gas emissions by weight 93.78 MTCO2 EN23 Number and volume of significant spills N/A En26 Initiatives to mitigate environmental impacts Green meetings, pervious parking lot, recycling, refurbishment of historic windows EN28 Fines and non-compliance sanctions N/A 2008 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT | 13 14 | GREY TOWERS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE Social indicators A s an agency within the USDA, the Forest Service is committed to serving the public. Grey Towers enacts this philosophy at every possible turn – welcoming schools groups, conservation leaders, and the general public to the grounds and facilities to learn about and experience conservation in action. Consistent with the Federal government as a whole, as well as Pinchot’s values, the Forest Service has a strong and well-documented commitment to prohibiting discrimination. The Federal government as a whole, and the USDA and Forest Service in particular, prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, and disability. Discrimination is also prohibited where applicable sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or a part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. In addition to prohibiting discrimination, the Forest Service actively promotes diversity among the workforce. The agency maintains a Diversity Statement that demonstrates its commitment to recruiting, nurturing, and maintaining a diverse workforce. Outreach and Education In 1963, the Pinchot family donated Grey Towers and the surrounding land to the Forest Service with the purpose of carrying on Gifford Pinchot’s life work of conservation. Pinchot’s legacy lives on at Grey Towers in the numerous public programs, interpretive tours, and conservation education programs provided and facilitated on-site. As a conference site, Grey Towers provides a venue for leading conservation and environmental visionaries to meet to help guide the future of natural resources conservation. Forest Service Leadership Programs This program is designed to enhance Forest Service leaders’ skills, knowledge, and awareness of leadership and the role it plays in building and maintaining relationships. It is open to Forest Service leaders including senior management, district rangers, forest supervisors, deputy forest supervisors, and staff officers. In FY 2008, Grey Towers hosted a total of eleven Leadership Programs with 211 attendees (see “Grey Towers Leadership Programs” on page 15). Green Meetings Grey Towers’ management looks for opportunities in all aspects of the site’s use to practice what they preach. Staff are encouraged to make thoughtful personal decisions, and the public is asked to do the same. Green meetings are one such example. Green meeting best practices reduce the environmental impact of trainings, meetings, and seminars hosted at Grey Towers. The 2008 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT | 15 facility’s commitment extends to the intent of developing and following a Green Meeting Policy that may include the following guidelines: • Minimize paper use for conference and meeting materials • Ensure conference materials contain post-consumer recycled content and/or are reusable • Recycle materials used at the conference, including composting food materials • Offer organic and/or local foods for snacks and meal service • Reduce energy and water consumption • Promote public or shared transportation for travel • Minimize or off-set emissions resulting from travel associated with the event Grey Towers’ commitment to finding ways to integrate sustainable practices into their programs, conferences, events, meetings, and seminars is an integral part of the Site’s heritage of combining conservation and education. Partnerships Grey Towers has a long history of working cooperatively with natural resource conservation organizations and community groups, such as the Grey Towers Heritage Association, the Delaware Highlands Conservancy, and the Pinchot Institute for Conservation. Grey Towers Heritage Association In addition to guided, interpretive tours, the Association sponsors many popular community events. Among the most successful is the annual Festival of Wood. As a celebration of the natural and cultural heritage of wood, the Festival educates thousands about the many valuable uses of wood in everyday lives and illustrates the concept of sustainable forestry. Introduced to America more than 100 years ago by Gifford Pinchot, sustainable forestry is celebrated through exhibits, films and lectures, wood crafts demonstrations, and a living history program. An education and conference center for natural resources conservation, Grey Towers also serves as a living museum bridging the Pinchot legacy and contemporary environmental issues. 16 | GREY TOWERS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE Diversity Statement: Achieving a Single Mission Through Diverse Perspectives The Forest Service is made up of thousands of employees from very different backgrounds. But we’re all working toward the same goals. For those of us in the Forest Service, diversity means much more than ethnicity, gender or culture. We believe that diverse perspectives help us solve problems more effectively. That’s why we maintain an environment in which people from different backgrounds feel comfortable, and in which people feel free to express their opinions and share their viewpoints. To help employees acclimate to life in the Forest Service, there are several employee affinity groups that give employees the opportunity to interact with others of similar backgrounds and viewpoints. These and other initiatives support our organizational commitment to diversify the Forest Service and strengthen the diverse population of employees we already have. And the more diverse we are as an organization, the more effectively we can respond to the needs of the diverse publics we serve. —USDA Forest Service Diversity Statement Grey towers leadership programs Forest Supervisor’s Roundtable The Roundtable uses a “study group” format, and the session is a highly interactive process, focusing on integrating previous models and establishing a consultative climate of peer support between Forest Supervisors. Forest Supervisor and Deputy Session: Building an Effective Working Relationship This session is a unique opportunity to explore, reflect on, discuss and enhance the unique working relationship between the Forest Supervisor and the Deputy Forest Supervisor. Leadership Laboratory for Forest Leaders (formerly known as Personal Mastery for Forest Leaders) This training is designed to increase conscious leadership behavior and promote growth and development among participants in areas such as collegiality, peer support, trust building, people skills, and increased leadership competence. Ranger Academy at Grey Towers Open to all Forest Service Rangers, this program focuses on learning advanced problem solving, communication, decision making, and leadership skills, and offers the opportunity to network among peers. This program is presented in alignment with the succession leadership competencies established by the Forest Service. Forest Staff Officers Program This training is a leadership development program designed to meet the professional development needs of employees who are currently working as forest staff officers. It focuses on improving a broad range of professional skills such as decision making, problem solving, interpersonal communication, collaboration, and partnership skills. The Leadership Legacy: Yesterday until Tomorrow For leaders new to the Forest Service, this program provides a view into Forest Service leadership roots, a connection to present day agency leadership issues, and an invitation to create a personal leadership legacy. 2008 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT | 17 Delaware Highlands Conservancy The Pinchot Institute for Conservation The Conservancy’s mission is to conserve the forests, farms, and waters of the Upper Delaware River region. As a land management agency and a semi-forested site in the region, Grey Towers partners with the Conservancy to assure and inform model land management practices that will further the efforts of the Conservancy in their outreach to private landowners, state offices, and local federal agency offices and operations. The Edgar Brannon Conservation Fellows Program is a cooperative program between the Pinchot Institute for Conservation and Grey Towers to commemorate the work of Edgar Brannon, former Director of Grey Towers. The program is open to natural resource professionals in the public sector and focuses on furthering knowledge and understanding of conservation issues. PERFORMANCE INDICATORS GRI Indicators LA1 GRI Indicator: Social Core Performance Indicators Workforce by type, contract, location Grey Towers Performance: Baseline 2008 Regular Full-Time: 18 Regular Part-Time: 14 Contractors: None Note: All Grey Towers staff are based on-site in Milford, PA. LA10 18 | Average hours of training per year per employee category GREY TOWERS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE Management Staff: 96 hours Administrative Staff: 40 hours Looking forward G ifford Pinchot’s pioneering work on natural resources conservation, environmental and historic preservation, sustainability, and public service has created a distinguished heritage that has already spanned more than a century. This enduring legacy still finds voice today in Grey Towers’ leadership in sustainability, as well as in providing an intellectual forum for debate, training, and progressive leadership development in conservation-related themes. Grey Towers continues to be at the national forefront for educational programs, interpretive tours, cultural activities, and community engagement in sustainability and environmental leadership. Adaptive use of existing structures demonstrates how historic preservation priorities can be successfully merged with contemporary challenges to develop creative solutions. Grey Towers is committed to leading by example, promoting the union of historic preservation with environmental conservation and illustrating the impacts that incremental change can have wide-reaching effects. Thoughtful and creative use of all available resources, historic or contemporary, embodied or newly-created, natural or man-made, is a guiding principle and unwavering commitment of Grey Towers National Historic Site. Environmental Goals • Reduce energy use by 2% annually from 2008 baseline • Reduce water use by 2% annually from 2008 baseline • Establish a goal for proportion of energy use from alternative, renewable energy sources • Develop baseline for solid waste and recycling quantities • Establish a reduction goal for solid waste based on baseline • Develop baseline of carbon footprint associated with meetings, trainings, and conferences 2008 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT | 19 GRI indicator index GRI Indicator Description Page Number Strategy & Analysis 1.1 Message from Director ii 1.2 Key impacts, risks, opportunities –– Organizational Profile 2.1 Name of organization ii 2.2 Primary services 2 2.3 Operational structure of the organization 2 2.4 Location of headquarters 2 2.5 Countries of operation 2 2.6 Nature of ownership 2 2.7 Markets served 2 2.8 Scale of organization 2 2.9 Significant changes 2 2.10 Awards received 2 Report Parameters 3.1 Reporting period 3 3.2 Date of last report 3 3.3 Reporting cycle 3 3.4 Contact Individual 3 3.5 Report content 3 3.6 Report boundaries 3 3.7 Limitations on report 3 3.8 Reporting on outside influences 3 3.9 Data measurement techniques –– 3.10 Re-statements 3 3.11 Changes from previous report 3 3.12 GRI content index 3 3.13 External assurance on report –– Governance 20 | 4.1 Governance structure 4 4.2 Chair as executive officer 4 4.3 Independent/Non-executive 4 4.4 Stakeholder input 4 4.5 Compensation link to performance –– 4.6 Avoidance of conflict of interest –– 4.7 Qualification of governing body –– 4.8 Mission, values, codes –– 4.9 Identify sustainability issues –– 4.10 Evaluate governing body performance –– GREY TOWERS NATIONAL HISTORIC SITE GRI Indicator Description Page Number 4.11 Precautionary approach –– 4.12 Externally developed sustainability initiatives –– 4.13 Membership in associations –– 4.14 Engaged stakeholders 4 4.15 Identification of stakeholders 4 4.16 Approach to stakeholder engagement –– 4.17 Issues raised by stakeholders –– Economic Core Performance Indicators EC1 Direct economic value –– EC2 Financial implications from climate change 5 EC3 Benefit plan obligations –– EC4 Government financial assistance 5 EC6 Local suppliers –– EC7 Local senior management 5 EC8 Impact from pro-bono actions –– Environmental Core Performance Indicators EN1 Materials by weight/volume 13 EN2 Percentage of materials that are recycled –– EN3 Direct energy consumption 13 EN4 Indirect energy consumption –– EN8 Total water withdrawal 13 EN11 Location of land near biodiversity 13 EN12 Impact of services on biodiversity –– EN16 Direct and indirect greenhouse gas emissions by weight 13 EN17 Relevant indirect greenhouse gas emissions by weight 13 EN19 Emission of ozone-depleting substances by weight –– EN20 NO, SO emissions by weight –– EN21 Water discharge by quality and destination –– EN22 Weight of waste by type and disposal method –– EN23 Number and volume of significant spills 13 EN26 Initiatives to mitigate environmental impacts 13 EN27 Percentage of product packaging reclaimed –– 2N28 Fines and non-compliance sanctions 13 Social Core Performance Indicators LA1 Workforce by type, contract, location 18 LA2 Number and rate of turnover by age group, gender, location –– LA4 Percentage of employees under collective bargaining –– LA5 Minimum notice periods –– LA7 Rates of injury, disease, lost days, death by location –– LA8 Resources for diseases –– LA10 Average hours of training per year per employee category 18 LA13 Composition of governance body and breakdown of employee diversity –– LA14 Ratio of basic salary (men , women) by employee category –– Additional or Supplemental Indicators –– Forest Service Sustainability Message 2008 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT | 21 The Forest Service was founded in 1905 to sustain and manage the United States’ national forest resources. Sustainability is the essence of the Forest Service’s mission to “Care for the Land and Serve the People.” Fulfilling this mission has endured the tests of time, and the Forest Service remains committed to managing the Nation’s forests to assure their existence and availability for future generations as well as the present one. Your comments on this Sustainability Report are welcome and may be sent to Dick Paterson, Director, Grey Towers National Historic Site at rpaterson@fs.fed.us or P.O. Box 188, 151 Grey Towers Drive, Milford, PA 18337.
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