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Greening Case Studies

The following institutions are participating in the Greening Our Science Centers Initiative.

 

New Hampshire Audubon

Profile
New Hampshire Audubon (NHA) is a membership organization founded in 1914 and dedicated to the conservation of wildlife and habitat throughout the state.  With a mission to protect New Hampshire’s natural environment for wildlife and for people, it owns 41 sanctuaries that protect thousands of acres of wildlife and operates five nature centers that provide educational programs for children and adults.  It is also involved in statewide conservation research and advocates for sound public policy on environmental issues.

New Hampshire Audubon is a founding member of the New England Science Center Collaborative (NESCC).  In that role it has helped create and develop programs that address climate change by connecting research institutions to science centers.  Such as NESCC’s Meet the Scientist programs, Climate Change Backpack training workshops, the Climate Change Exhibit and the Greening our Science Centers Initiative.

Past Initiatives
As an organization focused on wildlife habitat and the environment, NHA has been at the forefront of environmental initiatives in New Hampshire for many decades.  In 2004, NHA was one of the first science centers to participate in the NESCC Greening our Science Centers Initiative. Their work at that time included:

  • - identifying opportunities to incorporate energy efficiency into existing buildings
  • - establishing next steps for efficiency in new design
  • - assessing internal and external attitudes and behaviors and opportunities to improve the connection between existing programs and climate change
  • - considering ways to incorporate climate change into member communication and visitor programs (such as using facility construction as a teaching tool)

Current Initiatives
In 2005, Audubon opened the Samuel P. Pardoe Center at Prescott Farm.  This state-of-the-art building features geothermal heating and cooling, provision for photovoltaic units and is constructed from energy-efficient materials.   Located on a 160-acre farm, the new Center offers educational programs including programs that use the facility as a teaching tool.

The new 12,000 square foot NHA headquarter’s building in Concord, New Hampshire is scheduled to open in August, 2006.  A project manager was hired for this ambitious project to help NHA attain a LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification.  LEED is the U.S. Green Buildings Council program which has well-founded scientific standards that emphasize state of the art strategies for sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, material selection and indoor environmental quality.  Elements of the new building include a renewable energy plant (a wood pellet heating system), composting toilets, gray water treatment system, energy efficient lighting, FSC certified wood products from local hardwood retailers (rough pine siding and structural peeled posts harvested from the site and milled locally) and toxin-free manufactured wood products.  The building and its surrounding grounds will have interpretive signage and serve as part of the Center’s educational program.

Future Initiatives
New Hampshire Audubon is working with a sense of urgency to protect and enhance New Hampshire’s natural environment through education and advocacy.  Future  activities will focus on decision makers at local, state and federal levels to gain legislation, regulation resources and other support for wildlife in general and protection of wildlife habitat in particular. 

Contact
Iain MacLeod, Vice President of Public Affairs, 603-224-9909 or go to www.nhaudubon.org.

 

Christa McAuliffe Planetarium

Profile
The Christa McAuliffe Planetarium, located in Concord, New Hampshire, was built in 1990 to honor NASA’s first Teacher in Space. Its mission is: To educate, incite, and entertain learners of all ages in the sciences and humanities by actively engaging them in the exploration of astronomy and space science.

To achieve this mission, the Planetarium offers the following programs on astronomy, aviation, Earth and space science: multi-media shows in its 21st century all-digital theater, exhibits, outreach programs (complete with a portable planetarium and telescopes), children’s and family workshops and summer camps, educational materials, teacher workshops with graduate credits, a lecture series, teen night workshops, observational astronomy nights, aerospace festivals, tours and demonstrations, private rentals, radio and TV shows.

The Christa McAuliffe Planetarium is the largest planetarium in Northern New England, and the most technologically advanced planetarium in New England. During its 16 years of operation, over one million people have participated in its programs; approximately 400,000 of these participants have been students on school field trips.

The Christa McAuliffe Planetarium is a founding member of the New England Science Center Collaborative (NESCC). In that role, it has helped create and develop programs that address climate change by connecting research institutions to science centers – programs such as Breathing Space, the Planetarium’s multi-media planetarium show and on-line educational resource packet on climate change on Earth and throughout the solar system, and NESCC’s Meet the Scientist programs, Climate Change Backpack training workshops, the Climate Change Exhibit and the Greening our Science Centers Initiative.

Past Initiatives
Over the years, the Planetarium has incorporated new energy efficiency technologies into its operations. Working with its utility company on energy reduction and smart energy programs lighting has been continually upgraded. Working closely with its parent organization, the State of New Hampshire, the Planetarium has installed two solar panels, low-flush toilets, compact fluorescent lighting, and installed a desktop control and monitoring program for its HVAC systems.

Current Initiatives
In October 2005, the Christa McAuliffe Planetarium began participating in the NESCC Greening our Science Centers Initiative with the intent of reducing operating costs and greenhouse gas emissions and looking toward a future expansion.

In just four months, the Planetarium's Energy Team conducted a Greenhouse Gas Inventory, expanded their recycling program and developed an extensive project list of short-term projects (lighting sensors) and long-term projects (energy modeling for the upcoming building project).

In February, 2006, the State of New Hampshire announced Governor John Lynch's Energy Efficiency in State Government program. The Planetarium’s work with the NESCC Greening our Science Centers Initiative places it as a model for the state-wide effort and is positioned to play a leadership role with other state agencies.

Future Initiatives
The Alan B. Shepard Discovery Center is a 34,000-square foot addition that will quadruple the size of the Planetarium. The building, in design at this time, will focus attention on natural lighting, energy efficient HVAC systems and environmentally-friendly building supplies.

Contact
Jeanne Gerulskis or Jeffrey Hill at 603-271-7831 or www.starhop.com

 

The Three Aquariums Project

Profile
In 2006, the New England Science Center Collaborative’s Greening our Science Centers Initiative convened personnel from three aquariums -- the Mystic Aquarium in Mystic, CT, the New England Aquarium in Boston, MA and the Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, CT.   The impetus for the project was to bring “like organizations” together to consider as a group how to work on reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions.  Aquariums, among all of the NESCC science center members, are the largest energy consumers and the hardest hit when prices increase.  Each aquarium manages complex and aging mechanical systems and each of the three aquariums is facing the same key questions: l)how to reduce costs in the short-term and 2)how to reduce energy loads in the long-term.

Past Initiatives
Working closely with their local utilities, the three aquariums have continually improved their lighting controls and lighting fixtures -- from incandescent bulbs to ever-improving florescent tubes (T-12 to T-8) to an increasing array of LED options.  Similarly they have participated with their municipalities on peak load response programs.  And, in the recent past they have each installed air curtains in their entrances and variable frequency drives on HVAC fans and motors.  They have all also installed increasingly sophisticated water chilling and circulation processes in new exhibits but are strapped with many older systems in need of upgrades or replacement.  While energy management systems have improved over the years, each site is interested in working towards more fully integrated energy systems in their facilities and long-term energy planning. 

Current Initiatives
The consensus of theThree Aquarium group is to focus on energy efficiencies, system improvements and greenhouse gas emissions reductions.  Their emerging vision is to unite the three institutions to address common energy challenges and create sustainable practices.  By focusing on specific greening initiatives the aquariums are interested in finding common projects and new funders.  

Their first effort was to establish the Three Aquarium Task Force made up of representatives from both the administrative and facility departments at each site.  From that group facility managers have begun sharing energy-conserving techniques and technology with one another.  Each aquarium is also moving to establish internal Green Teams to develop site specific plans with their staff and colleagues.

Future Initiatives
Aquariums are logical collaborative partners as they each share enormous energy challenges.  Together they are more likely to find new solutions and funding for significant energy and emissions reductions.  Among the joint projects they are considering for the future include:  the joint purchasing of “green” products, seeking advice from experts (such as energy service companies or ESCOs) and updating water processing systems.

Contact
Mary Lou Krambeer, NESCC, 603-444-0949