“What’s good for the environment can be good for business.” That’s been the longtime mantra for Jerry and Carolyn Fuhs, owners/ developers of Valley of the Springs Resort and Big Splash Adventure Water Park. Since conceiving the project nearly five years ago, their goal has been to fill a local need for a year-round family vacation destination that’s environmentally and financially sustainable.

Following the February 2009 opening of the French Lick, Ind., property, the couple is planning to pursue LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. If all goes as hoped, Valley of the Springs will be the first-ever LEED-certified indoor waterpark resort.

Set on 75 woodland acres, the resort offers 154 rooms, with some accommodating up to eight guests; five on-site dining options, including The Boatyard Restaurant (buffet and menu dining) and The Mansion (fine dining); Treasure Chest Arcade; Comfyland toddlers’ dry-play space; and the 40,000-square-foot Big Splash Adventure indoor waterpark.

As the signature attraction, Big Splash Adventure features a host of amenities, including a 40-foot-tall slide tower with two body slides and two twist slides; a lazy river; the Lost Treasure Lagoon activity pool; and Palm Cove, an adults-only hot tub with room for 25. For the little ones, there’s also Buccaneer Bay, a three-story family play structure topped off with a 1,000-gallon dumping bucket, and the Splish Splash toddler pool.

Several state-of-the-art features put the entire property on the cutting edge of environmentally friendly design, and that’s evident even before stepping inside. The clear panel, aluminum structure of the Big Splash Adventure features a retractable roof and allows for maximum natural light, in turn reducing energy consumption.

The waterpark’s other green features include the use of energy-saving variable-speed pumps, along with regenerative media filtration and UV systems. Both help maintain ideal water quality, thereby minimizing chemical use. Clean water also means fewer chloramines in the air, which makes for lower energy usage when it comes to ventilation.

Looking at the property as a whole, recycled materials were used whenever possible during the construction process, and high-efficiency boilers were installed to help keep it all running on less power.

Additionally, the resort’s laundry center is equipped with the Ozone laundry system (shown to reduce hot water usage by as much as 95 percent). The IT Department has been specially designed for optimal performance on reduced power systems that emit less heat, reducing the need for air conditioning.

With the doors now open, the final phase of Valley of the Springs’ green program is set to take off. The resort will be offering a range of green programming, including environmentally themed events and activities for children and messaging regarding in-room energy conservation practices, such as the towel and linen reuse program.

Combined, the eco-conscious efforts in place at Valley of the Springs are an important step in reaching the end goal of LEED certification. But with or without the LEED designation, it’s clear that the operators have made a serious commitment. “As we move forward, we will continually monitor where we can incorporate energy savings, recycled materials and environmentally friendly practices,” owner Carolyn Fuhs says.

The property has been open to guests for about a month, so it’s too early to make any predictions. But with a strategy geared toward minimizing operational expenses by maximizing efficiency and sustainability, Valley of the Springs is off to a promising start.