Commission to Dedicate New Energy-Efficient Cabins at Ponca SP

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NGPC news release, 7/21/09:

LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission will dedicate two new “green” cabins on July 30 at Ponca State Park (SP). The event, which is open to the public, begins at 11:30 a.m.

The green cabins are aptly named, as they were designed to highlight various environment-friendly construction options now available to builders. The finished units, each equipped with two bedrooms, modern kitchen and bath, living room, and dining area, will be rented for overnight stays at the park. Visitors will be able to tour the cabins on July 30.

The most unique feature of these cabins is found within the walls constructed with prairie hay bales, which produce a high insulation R-value. Other green elements include recycled building materials, geothermal heating/cooling, lighting, and waste water treatment.

The goal of the project is to offer park visitors an opportunity to learn about energy efficiency, recycling and sustainable-living concepts during their overnight experiences in these cabins. Through their experiences, visitors may adopt sustainable-living practices in their own homes and thereby support natural resource and energy conservation. Interpretive signs within each cabin will highlight green building practices and concepts of sustainable living.

The green cabin program complements other environment-friendly practices being demonstrated at Ponca SP, including a park-wide recycling program, wetland wastewater treatment system, composting, native plant landscaping practices, habitat restoration, and diverse conservation education programs.

The cabins were financed through a collaboration of the Nebraska Environment Trust, Nebraska Public Power District, Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality, The National Park Service – Land and Water Conservation Fund, The Better Ponca Foundation, AAA Nebraska – Cornhusker Motor Club Foundation, and the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission.

Remaining partner funds will be used to finance construction of an additional green cabin, with a four-bedroom design, adjacent to the existing units. The combination of green and existing cabins will help accommodate family reunions and support the modern meeting facilities offered within the Missouri National Recreational River Resource and Education Center.

Ponca SP is located in northeast Nebraska just north of the town of Ponca. A park entry permit is required of vehicles entering the park. Go to OutdoorNebraska.org to purchase a park entry permit./21/09: