Green Fund
GOAL: Support unique sustainability projects through the Green Fund
The Dallas Zoo’s Green Fund provides funding for unique sustainability projects that have impacts in the areas of water, energy consumption, waste reduction, active commuting, and engagement of staff in sustainability in accordance with the Dallas Zoo’s Sustainability Master Plan. The Zoo first created the fund in 2022, and funding was directed to new compost bins and a manure handler trough filling project in animal barns.
2025
This year, the Zoo has dedicated $20,000 to sustainability projects that will be ranked and prioritized based on their environmental, financial, and social impacts. Staff have submitted ideas for projects, and the Green Fund Committee is in the process of analyzing the potential impacts of all submissions. The winning projects will be released shortly!
2024
In 2024, the Dallas Zoo funded the following projects:
- Purchase of electric tricycles for staff transportation
- Conversion to LED light bulbs
- Purchase of ANC tablets for animal nutrition tracking
- Installation of motion sensors for lights
- Installation of timers on water misters
Impact of projects funded in 2024:
- The switch to LED light bulbs will reduce electricity emissions by more than 17 MTCO2e per year
- The installation of light motion sensors will reduce emissions by more than 7 MTCO2e per year
Electric tricycles were purchased in 2024
2023
In 2023, the Dallas Zoo funded the following projects:
- Purchase of two new water submeters for gorilla habitats
- Purchase of two new water line auto-fill controllers for gorilla habitats
- Installation of water line submeters for otter water feature and gorilla habitats
Impact of projects funded in 2023:
- Water submeters are used to monitor and track the water usage of the highest water users at the Dallas Zoo. They can identify abnormalities in usage that can be further investigated. In January 2024, the submeter at the Otter Water feature showed a 400,000-gallon increase in usage. When this was investigated by the Water Conservation Focus Team, a major leak was identified! This leak may not have been located and fixed if it weren’t for the monitoring and tracking abilities of the new submeter.
One of the auto-fill controllers that was purchased in 2023
