Best Practices in Water Conservation, Waste Reduction, Energy Conservation, and Indoor Air Quality

Of the approximately 40 square miles at Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, nearly one-third of the property has been set aside as a dedicated wildlife conservation area. The Nature Conservancy’s Disney Wilderness Preserve is a lasting testament to the company’s commitment to develop responsibly.

Disney purchased 8,500 acres in Osceola County, FL to allow for build-out of the resort and created a model partnership between government, non-profit, and business. Working with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida water management districts and groups like Audubon of Florida and the Nature Conservancy, the $45 million investment is a living laboratory for land restoration. The Preserve has grown to 12,000 acres as other companies have followed the model to expand the original tract. A “green” welcome center is a centerpiece and is open to the public.

To become an EPA “Energy Star Partner,” Disney has implemented energy-saving fixtures and other changes throughout the property. The original implementation of the program saved enough energy to power Disney’s Animal Kingdom in its first year of operation.

Walt Disney World Resort implemented a “Strive for Five” program, resulting in nearly five percent in energy savings and conservation across the resort. Through ongoing energy audits and the EPA’s Green Lights program Disney strives to use the most energy-efficient fixtures possible.

Disney completed the state’s Green Lodging designation for all 23 resort hotels – representing the largest number of Green Lodging-certified hotels in the state. Disney’s Boardwalk Inn Resort was the first resort in Florida to receive the designation. To achieve this special designation, resorts must focus on five categories: water conservation, education and awareness, waste reduction, energy conservation, and indoor air quality.

Walt Disney World Resort has improved the linen washing process by increasing wash loads by 20 percent; upgrading dryers, and adapting a water reuse system. The result is that 29 million gallons of water are saved each year – enough water to fill the aquarium at The Seas with Nemo and Friends six times. The process also saved 61,000 therms of natural gas annually, which is enough to power 1,452 household clothes dryers for one year.

Walt Disney World Resort’s approach to water conservation begins with using less water where possible and maximizing use of reclaimed water. Approximately 30 percent of the resort’s overall needs and 80 percent of its irrigation needs are met with reclaimed water.

Walt Disney World Resort uses more than 6 million gallons of reclaimed water each day, which is used for irrigating landscape, washing buses, and cleaning streets at theme parks and resorts. This amount of water could fill 400 home swimming pools each day for a year.

Disney Harvest reduced food waste by gathering excess prepared food from Walt Disney World Resort kitchens and distributing it through the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. More than 1,000 local children are fed weekly through this program. In 2008, Disney Harvest gave 704,845 pounds of food to the hungry in Orange, Osceola, Lake and Seminole counties.

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