Sustainability and building green at the California Academy of Sciences

Aaron PopeManager of Sustainability Programs

2 An aquarium, rainforest,

Inside the new Academy…

A rainforest, an aquarium, a planetarium and a natural history museum, under a living roof

Why is sustainability important at the Academy?

Protecting the environment is a central part of the Academy’s mission:

“To explore, explain and protect the natural world”

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Official Sustainability Statement

An overview – the building

• Hundreds of design features combine together to make the building more efficient

• LEED Platinum certified

• 3 main areas

• Energy efficiency

• Water conservation

• Recycled materials

Energy efficiency

Photovoltaic Cells

• Sixty thousand photovoltaic cells provide 5% to 10% of the building’s electricity from solar energy (excluding the AQ)

• An18-20% efficiency

Energy efficiency cont.

• Natural air conditioning

• Steep roofs draw cool air into the open piazza at the center of the building

• Automatic skylights open to release warm air as needed

• Motorized windows automatically open and shut to allow cool air into the building

• Automatic blinds open and close to block sunlight and keep building cool

• Staff offices have manual windows to regulate temperature

Energy efficiency cont.

Energy efficiency cont.

Radiant heating

• Floor radiant heating utilizes the natural tendency of heat to rise.

• Pipes carrying the Academy’s existing water supply run under the floor

Energy efficiency cont.

• Natural light

• Most occupied spaces have access to daylight

• Sunlight shines through rooftop skylights onto the rain forest and aquarium

• Photosensors in the lighting system automatically regulate artificial light

Energy efficiency cont.

• Roof perimeter

• Extended roof perimeter blocks out hot summer sun and lets in warm winter sun to regulate office spaces.

Water conservation

• We have installed waterless urinals and low flow sinks, showers and toilets

• Saltwater for the aquariums is piped in from the Pacific Ocean and the nitrate wastes are purified with natural systems so that the water can be recycled

• Gardening water comes primarily from Golden Gate Park groundwater supply

• The Academy retains nearly 3.6 million gallons of rainwater per year (98%), preventing storms from carrying pollutants into the ecosystem

Recycled materials

Pieces of the old Academy

90% of the waste was recycled instead of being sent to landfills

Where did it go?

• 12,000 tons of steel -The steel was recycled by Schnitzer Steel

• The concrete became base for a new roadway project in Richmond

• 80,000 tons of sand went to local construction projects

Recycled materials

Materials

• The building’s concrete contains recycled materials - 35% slag and 15% fly ash

• At least 50% of the wood in the new Academy was sustainably harvested

Recycled materials

Blue Jean Insulation

• The Academy building is insulated using denim material recycled from used blue jeans

• Non-toxic

• Renewable

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Teaching strategies

The Academy uses every opportunity to inform the public about sustainability

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Transformative efforts

Through its sustainability programs the Academy wishes to:

• Inspire the next generation of environmental scientists

• Empower visitors to help protect the natural world

• Establish a long-term dialogue and relationship with visitors

• Utilize Cutting-edge approaches to maximize our positive impact: (social networking, web, technology, social sciences, community building)

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Exhibition – Building Green

Building Green is the central area where visitors can learn about the sustainable design features of the building.

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Exhibition – Altered State: Climate Change in California

Altered State explores the science of climate change, the effects visitors might expect to see globally and in California, and the steps that can be taken to mitigate these dramatic changes.

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Green amenities

Above the public water fountains, signage encourages visitors to think twice before using bottled water.

Water fountains

In the public restrooms, signage encourages visitors to conserve water and install low-flow fixtures in their own homes.

Restroom signage

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Green amenities

Signage encourages visitors to sort their waste properly:

Waste signage

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Exporting signage

Several organizations have expressed an interest in using the Academy’s sustainability signage, including:

• Government offices

• Grocery stores

• Schools & universities

• Large corporations

We have designed a program to accommodate these requests.

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Teacher Institute on Science & Sustainability

Provides teachers with the critical tools and knowledge to inspire the next generation to protect Earth:

• 3rd - 5th grade teachers

• The two-year program includes in-depth workshops, offsite visits, 2-week summer session

• Topics include climate change, energy use, and food and water choices

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Integrated events

The Academy hosts multiple, sustainably focused events throughout the year.

Some examples are:

• Thursday NightLife

• Earth Day

• World Ocean Day

• Earth Hour

• Academy anniversary

• Green Holidays

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Sustainability Card

• Emphasizes green living practices

• Offers a range of choices from very simple to complex.

65,000 distributed to date.

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Conclusion

• The empirical scientific evidence shows that we are currently on an unsustainable path

• There are a myriad of ways to engage the public about sustainability

• It is our responsibility to to walk the walk and communicate effectively